PARIS — Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has defended his decision to use the same starting side in all three Euro 2016 soccer matches so far. The champions won their opening games against the Czech Republic and Turkey but were beaten 2-1 defeat by Croatia and now must take on Italy in Paris on Monday in a repeat of the 2012 final.

“I accept it (the criticism) because it goes with my position,” Del Bosque told AS newspaper. “Had I made changes and we lost, people would have said ‘why change something that works?’ But there was nothing to alter.”

Iceland and Spain are the only sides in the knock-out round to have 11 players who have surpassed the 200-minute mark of the 270 minutes played in total. Winger Pedro had voiced his frustration before the Croatia game after playing just nine minutes. “If you don’t play, it isn’t worth it coming just to make up the numbers,” he said. — Reuters.

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