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[caption id="attachment_16098" align="alignnone" width="580"] Spain players at training. Twitter[/caption] Internet Desk: Most bookmakers only make them third-favourites to win a third consecutive title, having already made history by retaining it, with advancing years and lack of form among some of Vicente del Bosque’s squad sewing seeds of doubt. Stodgy friendly draws with Italy and Romania in March did little to stoke the optimism, but when considering a side of this quality – and this habit of winning – you write them off at your peril.

The Czechs have an impressive track record at European Championships, finishing as runners-up in 1996 and losing to eventual winners Greece in the 2004 semi-finals when a wonderfully talented side should probably have won the tournament.

That is before the success of the state from which the country emerged, Czechoslovakia, in winning the 1976 tournament is considered and while there is little chance of a repeat performance this time there are a few signs that Czech football is on the way back. Coach Pavel Vrba has done a fine job since arriving in 2013 and, while they will compete in a very tight group, could well take them into the last 16.

David De Gea has vehemently denied allegations in the Spanish media linking him to a prostitution case, however the Manchester United goalkeeper's situation may prompt Del Bosque to stick with Iker Casillas in goal, while AlvaroMorata leads the race to start in attack after overcoming a thigh injury.

The Czech Republic qualified ahead of Iceland, Turkey and the Netherlands and Vrba has every member of his squad - including captain Tomas Rosicky - fit for Monday's match.

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque: "We shouldn't set any limits. We can't say if we get to the semi-finals we will be happy, we need to aspire to win it. This is sport and we don't know how far we'll go, but we need to maintain the dream to fight for a third consecutive Euro title."

Czech manager Pavel Vrba: "Their team is made up of the best players in the world, who play for Real Madrid and Barcelona. So it will be a tough challenge but we will try to beat them and I hope we can – yet we know it will be very hard."

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland must somehow silence superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic when they open their Euro 2016 campaign against Sweden at the Stade de France tomorrow.

In a Group E also containing Italy and much-fancied Belgium, a defeat for either side could be a decisive blow to their prospects of reaching the last 16. At 34, Manchester United target Ibrahimovic is probably gracing a major international tournament for the last time after scoring 11 times during qualifying for Erik Hamren's men. "He's a good player but you can't single him out because they have others who can score goals, as they proved against Wales when there were three goal-scorers and he wasn't one of them," reasoned Ireland's veteran goalkeeper Shay Given, who is back-up to first choice Darren Randolph. "Still he's a fantastic player, one of the best centre-forwards in the world, but we've got to keep him quiet and the rest of them quiet as well." Ibrahimovic is familiar with the Stade de France, where he made the last appearance of a prolific four-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain in the French Cup final against Marseille three weeks ago.