The positive of Sergio Busquets has dynamited the roadmap of the Spanish team on its way to the Eurocup, conditioned by the confinement of the team and the workers that surround the members of the national team. Luis Enrique’s men are isolated in the Ciudad de Fútbol de Las Rozas, where they no longer train as a group and comply with the sanitary measures aimed at stopping the appearance of a possible outbreak. Two months ago, those responsible for ‘La Roja’ asked the authorities for an express vaccination plan for members of the ‘Spanish bubble’, a request that fell on deaf ears. Even the Minister of Culture and Sports, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, asked the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, last Friday to authorize the immunization, but he did not get the green light either. As well, The Government will address the matter this Tuesday and everything indicates that it will allow vaccination with the Janssen single-dose preparation.
The institution chaired by Luis Rubiales has already shown its discomfort with the Government for not initially including the selection within the vaccination protocol. The Italian, Belgian and French federations, among others, were supported by their respective executives and were able to immunize their players. However, Spanish Olympic athletes have been able to receive protection for the Tokyo Games thanks to an agreement between the COE and Health. Hence, those responsible for La Roja have denounced this unequal treatment and requested the application of the same criteria. Not one millimeter was advanced, but the contagion of Busquets – isolated at his home in Barcelona and awaiting events – has shaken the foundations of the national team. Now it seems that the Executive will back down and validate the punctures. The viral load of the Barça midfielder was low and there is hope that the virus has not spread in the locker room, closed tightly. But all are doubts.
The government is expected to authorize vaccination with the Janssen single-dose on Tuesday. Its great advantage is that the players and the coaching staff would only receive a puncture and would not have to be immunized again. The players are separated, each in his room and working individually. This Monday they have gone down to breakfast in shifts and the ritual has been repeated at lunch, which sought to organize outdoors. The precautions are extreme because more cases would put Luis Enrique in serious trouble, who will have to vary his plan to arrive in the best possible conditions for Monday’s game against Sweden. The friendly this Tuesday will be played by the sub’21 with Luis de la Fuente in front, an emergency solution to avoid the suspension of the clash against the Lithuanians. Everything is nerves and uncertainty in Las Rozas, with daily antigen tests and PCR aimed at cutting off a possible collective transmission of the pathogen.
Committed preparation
There is no doubt that the preparation for the Eurocup has been seriously compromised by the positive of Busquets, just a week after the premiere at La Cartuja. What’s more, the squad enjoyed a day off on Sunday and went to eat in Torrelodones, while always respecting UEFA’s anticovid protocol. There is fear of more infections, although within the national team they are optimistic and think that the problem will not grow. Even so, in the best of cases, the players will not recover normality in days and they will not be able to carry out the set-up scheduled for the last week before the Eurocup.. It will be necessary to take care of the physical as much as possible and not lose contact with the ball, in very small groups and with a safe distance.
Sweden, Spain’s first rival in the continental tournament, is very attentive to what happens with Spain. He does not take his eyes off what is happening in Las Rozas, where the activity is minimal. In any case, the senior team will be in Seville on Monday and under no circumstances is the possibility that the under-21s will have to replace the ‘majors’ is contemplated. In accordance with UEFA regulations, if a team has at least 13 players – including a goalkeeper – the match will take place as scheduled. If the number of troops is insufficient, the duel would be rescheduled within 48 hours. Only if none of this is fulfilled, then the match would be lost (3-0). In the selection they are waiting, pending tests and vaccines, confident of saving the situation. But the scare is in the body, a tricky way to start the Eurocup.
.
