Enschede (Netherlands) (EFE) as coach, with a prestigious victory that is worth a final, against Croatia, the second in the League of Nations, and the option of winning a title eleven years later.
Spain lacks talent but has plenty of heart. He longs for Pedri, who he urgently needs to raise his quality of play several levels. Absent due to injuries on the two occasions that Spain entered the final phase of the League of Nations to be a finalist. A footballer, like Rodri, who brings a team closer to a model. He urgently needs to define it Luis de la Fuente. Immersed in continuous massive changes. From revolution to revolution in every eleven. In need of a joy like the one starring against Italy that settles a project that was born between doubts.
They came out to bite their players feeling that it was a key day to recover the lost prestige. With such high pressure that before Bonucci’s serious mistake the risk had already been felt in the stadium. All except a war veteran who was stalked by Gavi and finished off by Yeremy Pino. The theft ended in tenths of a second in a perfect definition with the inside of the foot to put Spain ahead after three minutes.
It had already given Rodrigo Moreno time to generate the first shot and Rodri to kick high with power on a warning. The courage of the two teams in their approach. High blood pressure. It contrasted with the lack of quality in the final meters. Rodri’s figure imposed the criteria, giving meaning to each action that went through his boots, and Jorginho’s vision brought out the Spanish defensive weakness.
An error of those that does not change with the replacement of the coach, by Unai Simón giving away the ball in the exit phase with a dangerous and unnecessary pass through the central lane, fueled the doubt. So logical for the union of two ‘perfect strangers’. The French nationalized Spanish couple, Laporte-Le Normand, who debuted after barely sharing a training session.
A simple chopped ball from Jorginho generated mismatches when misfortune allied with Le Normand. The shot, heading for the Zaniolo band, hit a hand detached from his body. Immobile did not miss the maximum penalty. The exchange of gifts was already done between two teams that have turned their duel into a European football classic.
Spain, undefined between direct play or touch, found in Jesús Navas the player who contributed the most in attack. Continuous rises in a sweet moment of a footballer who De la Fuente turned to due to the need for experience in a short tournament. He finished plays, without success but testing Donnarumma with shots from Rodrigo Moreno and twice from Morata.
Meanwhile, in defensive work, Laporte was seen to suffer in transitions due to his lack of rhythm. Italy, with very little, made the foundations of La Roja tremble and in an overconfidence of Jordi Alba they came to take the lead on the scoreboard. Frattesi did not forgive the one-on-one with Unai and the VAR saved Spain from a comeback in ten minutes that, after Scotland’s bump, would have been difficult to lift.
The lack of Spanish talent could be compensated by De la Fuente with the entry into the field of Marco Asensio first and Canales. In Italy Mancini had fewer options. His team was dwarfed when he did not have to throw courage against the score. He gave the ball to Spain and suffered great wear. The Spanish defensive adjustments reduced his effectiveness on the counterattack and without being able to run he dwarfed.
Sensing its importance in the change of scenery, Asensio was liked, associating himself and increasing the quality of possession. He put it perfectly to the surprise appearance of Mikel Merino who, with his left foot, caused the stoppage of the game. A saving hand from Donnarumma prevented the goal and Morata, with his back turned, and finishing off in the turn, did not find the goal in one of those actions that a 9 should not forgive.
Those were the moments in which Spain deserved the goal and the victory. With Rodri’s scissors, so confident enough to try everything after being the hero of City’s first ‘Champions’. But Italy, when it seems weakest, always surprises. And he could do damage in his only arrival when Unai Simón saved the Spanish team. Behind Jordi Alba, with a cross that Frattesi finished off at will and found a save full of reflexes.
De la Fuente won the match with the substitutions. Spain tried it while Italy signed the extension, and when the end loomed Joselu appeared in a state of grace as an international. After a record debut with a double against Norway, when he had been on the field for four minutes, he was in the right zone to pick up a dead ball after Rodri’s shot and score at will taking advantage of Acerbi getting hooked. The award for perseverance that brings La Roja closer to a title eleven years later. For this he will have to overcome the legend Modric.
. Datasheet:
1 – Spain: Unai Simon; Jesus Navas, Le Normand, Laporte, Jordi Alba; Rodrigo, Mikel Merino (Fabian, m.74), Gavi (Canales, m.68); Rodrigo Moreno (Marco Asensio, 46), Yeremy (Ansu Fati, 74) and Morata (Joselu, 84).
1 – Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Tolói, Bonucci (Darmian, m.46), Acerbi; Jorginho (Cristante, m.61), Barella, Frattesi (Verratti, m.76); Spinazzola (Dimarco, m.46), Zaniolo and Inmobile (Church, m.60).
Goals: 1-0, m.3: Yeremy Pino. 1-1, m.11: Immobile, penalty. 2-1. m.88: Joselu.
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia). He booked Alba (45), Gavi (57) and Morata (83) for Spain, and Inmobile (38) and Zaniolo (93) for Italy.
Incidents: second semifinal of the League of Nations played at the Twente Stadion before 27.00 spectators. Nearly 5,000 fans supported the Spanish team in the stands and some 8,000 for the Italian team. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Roberto Morales
June 16, 2023
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Joselu leads Spain to the final of the Nations Cup
by EFE
Enschede (Netherlands) (EFE) as coach, with a prestigious victory that is worth a final, against Croatia, the second in the League of Nations, and the option of winning a title eleven years later.Spain lacks talent but has plenty of heart. He longs for Pedri, who he urgently needs to raise his quality of play several... Read More