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Spain get World Cup preparations back on track with Czech win

The Spanish and Czech players in action
The Spanish and Czech players in actionAFP
Real Madrid's Esther Gonzalez scored twice as Spain beat the Czech Republic 3-0 on Wednesday to get their Women's World Cup preparations back on track.

Gonzalez's Real team-mate Athenea del Castillo converted a penalty to seal the win, despite Spain missing 15 top players who are embroiled in a row with coach Jorge Vilda.

Spain end the four-team Cup of Nations - a dress rehearsal for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July-August - with two wins from three.

The Euro 2022 quarter-finalists beat Jamaica 3-0 but lost 3-2 to hosts Australia.

The unbeaten Australians round out the tournament against Jamaica later Wednesday needing a draw to win the trophy.

Spain applied all the early pressure in the rain at Newcastle, north of Sydney, with the breakthrough coming on 28 minutes after a neat series of passes ended with Gonzalez tapping in from close range.

The experienced striker doubled the lead 10 minutes later with a header, before Del Castillo made it 3-0 from the penalty spot with six minutes left.

Spain have two more international windows left to tune up for the World Cup and for the 15 players, including a large Barcelona cohort, to decide whether they want to play under Vilda again.

None have featured since September when they made themselves unavailable for selection, reportedly unhappy at the locker-room atmosphere and his training methods.

The Spanish FA backed the coach.

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