St. Petersburg
Updated:07/02/2021 00:57h
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After the euphoria of triumph before CroatiaEven the hangover, the moment of analysis arrived. And although the selection of Luis Enrique can be given few ‘buts’ in that match charged with electricity, many were screeched by the two goals scored by the Balkans in the last ten minutes of regulation time, an unexpected gale that carried the game to the extension. First it was Orsic, who took advantage of two faulty rejections almost on the goal line to close the gap. Before, Modric had entered the area from the right side with astonishing ease. And then it was Pasalic’s turn, who headed over Pau Torres the equalizer after another Croatian interned, now on the left wing.
Spain reaches the quarterfinals with four goals conceded, all three against Croatia and the one that scored Lewandowski in the second game. Without being a worrying figure (one goal per game), the national team does not offer the same defensive security as England, who have not yet conceded, or Italy and Belgium, who only have one goal against. In other words, Spain is the third of the eight quarter-finalists that receives the most goals, even though it is the third that is shot the least. In spite of everything, the statistics that Luis Enrique manages do not say the same: «We are one of the best teams on a defensive level, and you can see that in the data. It is something that I have done explicitly. The attitude of the team is very good in that regard, but it is true that there were some individual errors.
“We have seen those last ten minutes again, we have analyzed them and much more cannot be done,” he said shortly after. Aymeric Laporte, yesterday in charge of accompanying the coach at the official press conference. The center-back feels marked, like the rest of the defenders, for the criticism of those mistakes that cost two goals, but he understands that his work and that of his teammates is good: “You can improve things, but we didn’t do it so much. bad enough to conceal two goals. It has also happened to other teams in this European Championship. We must make self-criticism and think that this cannot be produced and improved for other parties.
No ideal partner
Laporte was also blamed for his softness in his duel with Lewandowski, especially in the goal that the Polish striker scored, winning the position. But still he is one of Luis Enrique’s untouchables. The only one, next to Unai Simon Y Pedri, who has played every minute so far. Against Switzerland he will be the starter again, although the doubt remains who will accompany him this time. Pau Torres started the first two games and also finished the next two, in this case replacing Eric García. It remains unclear which formula convinces Luis Enrique the most, since three of the four goals received by Spain have come with the pair formed by the two left-handed defenders. In any case, to Laporte He is not worried about being scored against them as long as the offensive strength of the national team is maintained: “If you score five goals and receive three, you pass. If you score more goals, you pass. That is the most important thing in football, we have to be more attentive and correct things, but the most important thing we have done ”.
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