With a historic 6-0 win against Germany, Spain has written a handsome letter of nobility in the run-up to the European Championship. La Roja has, however, been in a transition phase for a while. Mario Cortegana of the Spanish sports newspaper AS answered our question whether Spain is immediately a fellow favorite for the European Championship.
Germany had never suffered a bigger defeat in a stakes match, Manuel Neuer had never conceded 6 goals in his entire career and Ferran Torres was only the third player in history to score a hat-trick against the Mannschaft. The 6-0 was surprising for many reasons.
Nobody saw this coming in Spain either. “Recently, Spain didn’t score much and we have a young national team. The team does have potential, but until yesterday it had never performed at its best level. Because of the level they showed now, we see this as new in Spain. get started.”
Indeed, the problem of this Spain was a lack of constant performance. In the Nations League, there was recently a draw against Switzerland (1-1) and lost to Ukraine 1-0).
“The reason for those ups and downs is the busy calendar. If you are tired or have a bad day, then there is a good chance that you will lose. Because the general level has increased. It can happen to anyone. Even Belgium, for example against Ivory Coast and England. “
“Nevertheless, I still see a number of countries with a higher level than Spain and I am thinking of Belgium, France and Portugal as well.”
I can name 9 or 10 basic players of the Belgian team for the match. Not in Spain.
“Spain is not yet a solid team”
Since the gradual withdrawal of the key players who gave Spain two European titles and a world title – Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres, David Villa and more recently Gerard Piqué and David Silva – Spain is building a new champions team post 2014 . Will they be ready for the European Championship in 2021?
“I would clearly have answered no for the match against Germany”, says Mario Cortegana. “But you know how football works. Now everyone is very happy with the Spanish national team, but we have to put that in perspective. Spain has shown flaws before.”
“The weak points of this team are mainly that it is not yet a solid team, of which most players are still young. I can name 9 or 10 basic players of the Belgian team for the match. Not in Spain.”
“If a player has two or three good months at his club, he will be called up by Luis Enrique. If it goes less after that, we won’t see him again.”
“What happened against Germany is of course a foretaste of what this team is potentially capable of. Ramos can play for two or three more seasons, Morata is doing well at Juventus and there are a lot of players around who are going to get much better. “
“For example Rodri and Torres from Manchester City and Olmo, who I think will end up at an absolute top club within one or two years.”
Ramos, Torres, Rodri and Morata as the backbone
To take this new generation in tow, Mario Cortegana refers to Sergio Ramos, Pau Torres, Rodri and Alvaro Morata. “Ramos is the real leader of the team on and off the field.”
“After Piqué’s farewell, it was difficult to find the ideal partner for Ramos at the back center. Pau Torres has done well against Germany and is also doing well this season at Villarreal, so it seems finally to be right there.”
“In midfield, I cannot explain to Rodri why he is not always preferred over Busquets. Buesquets’ level has been declining in recent years and Rodri’s is making the opposite move. He deserves more minutes. He is simply the best option on the game. that place. ”
“In the attack, the match against Germany once again showed that Spain is better at playing with a real striker than with a false 9. Especially when you have someone like Morata who does well at Juventus.”
Without additional injuries, Spain will also recover Thiago Alcantara, Ansu Fati and Daniel Carvajal (all three injured) by the European Championship 2021. Isco and Saul – both still present at the 2018 World Cup – should not immediately count on a return.
“Saul does not count for Luis Enrique. He will not be there in the future. The same goes for Isco, who is in the worst form and worst phase of his career.”
In the attack, the match against Germany once again showed that Spain plays better with a real striker than with a false 9.
