The top scorer of the era of is not his captain, Morata (seven), neither the polyphunctional Dani Olmo (six) nor the opportunist Joselu. The player who has given the most goals to the Red since De la Fuente sat on the bench of the absolute is Mikel Oyarzabal, with nine. “You have to give value to this. The Netherlands is a great team, with great players. They do not put things easy. Although it has been expensive, the important thing was to pass and we have done it. The importance of the group and that we all add,” said Oyarzabal, after Spain is classified for the semifinal of the Nations League, on June 5 against France. “Great emotion and a blessed suffering. Enjoying in a game that could be a final. We have seen in the development of the game that was. A great selection on the other side, very potent.
Although Mestalla turned on with each dribble from the tireless Nico Williams and exploded with the goal of Oyarzabal, a less explosive footballer and surely less charismatic than his attack companions, he was the striker who left Ovación de Valencia. Only one name was more chanted by the fans: that of Iniesta. But he, of course, was not in the field.
The previous duel back from the quarterfinals between Spain and the Netherlands had been marked by cross statements between Sy Xavi Simons. “In Spain we are going to paint their face,” said Athletic. And the Dutch replied: “We’ll see it.” Nico Williams clarified his words and Koeman understood: “He is a good boy.” But another thing that still made more noise between Spain and the Netherlands: the typhus that had received in Róterdam with the goal of Van Persie in the 2014 World Cup. “The typhus that I want is that of 3-0 on the scoreboard,” said De la Fuente. It happened that he scored three goals, but the Netherlands also and the penalty roulette erased the euphoria of the fans in Mestalla, which had been lit when the videomarker recalled Iniesta’s goal in the 2010 World Cup final, both as well as to say goodbye to Oyarzabal when Ferran replaced it: “Mikel, Mikel, Mikel.”
From the source it usually stirns the eleven. Respectful of the hierarchies, also with the trajectory of the players in La Roja, the coach does not seek its prominence, but the triumph of the collective. Under this line of thought, from the source he returned ownership to Unai Simon as soon as he exceeded his injury, while still without living in the field to Olmo and Pedri. “I don’t know what interest you have to play or stop playing,” he complains when asked about the compatibility of Barça players. However, the technician did not tremble his pulse to send Pedro Porro to the bench, much less to remove the captain from the team, one of his most protected players: Morata. He did not pup at 7 who hugged Oyarzabal after his second goal.
Last Friday, Morata did not jump to train with the rest of his teammates. As explained by the Federation, the captain was “indisposed.” Yes did on Saturday. “Everyone is in perfect condition,” he warned of the source in the previous one. Therefore, when the coach decided to leave the captain on the bench to place from 9 to Oyarzabal, the decision was technical. The coach did not fail. He did not do it with Huijsen instead of Asencio to replace the injured Cubarsí, or with the change of mingueza for Porro for more defensive security and Olmo’s by Pedri to accelerate in the transitions. Of course, it did not fail in the election of Oyarzabal.
“It has been a very open game. Two teams with a similar football. We always propose attack and a lot of attack. That is why today the viewer has enjoyed a lot. The game was uncontrolled at times. It is very nice to spend like this. You have to value the numbers of this group of players. To enjoy another great final Four. We are classified three world champions and one in Europe,” he analyzed from the source. “We know that this competition faces you the best in Europe. We have faced a great team as the Netherlands and now we will have time to analyze France. We already know him from the Eurocup and the final in Nations. It is always a very beautiful game and we will enjoy it,” added Unai Simon.
The problem was that the improvement of performance of Spain regarding the first leg in Róterdam was conditioned by the lack of forcefulness in defense. A handicap that stretched the cathartic cry of Mestalla to the last penalty: then the hero was not Oyarzabal but Pedri.
