Defending Euro champion drops first qualifier since 2006

Coach Vicente del Bosque denied Spain was caught in a downward spiral after the holder slumped to a stunning 2-1 loss to Slovakia in Euro 2016 Group C qualifying on Thursday.

Del Bosque decided to stay on after his team was knocked out in the first round of the World Cup in Brazil in June and, although he has brought in a number of new faces, it was a familiar story at the MSK stadium in Zilina.