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Pedri activates Spain before the Olympic premiere

  • The national team draws in Kobe against Japan five days before their debut in the Games against Egypt (1-1)

  • Doan advanced to the Japanese and Soler equalized after the entrance of the Barcelona star, who contributed fluidity to the game.

With absences as relevant in the Olympic expedition as those of Rafa Nadal (tennis) and Carolina Marin (badminton), the hopes of Spain to add golds in the medal table they are not very high. One of those options, undoubtedly, is found in the soccer team, one of the clear favorites to proclaim champion. The set of Luis de la Fuente played this Saturday before Japan his only friendly before the Olympics (1-1). The entrance of Pedri In the second part, he activated a ‘Rojita’ who has all the wickedness to aspire to success.

The national team landed in Japan on Wednesday after a 16-hour flight. With hardly any time to overcome jet lag (there are seven hours of difference with Spain), the Spaniards got down to work and this Saturday they tested themselves against the host of the Olympic event, a Japanese block that was more fresh and dynamic in the first half. Little by little, De la Fuente’s selection regained its best level, that version that allows you to dream of repeating the unforgettable gold achieved in the Barcelona-92 Olympics.

The most valued

Although the opening ceremony will take place next Friday, the football competition begins on Thursday. Spain, precisely, will dispute the inaugural match against Egypt (9.30 am). Argentina, champions in 2004 and 2008, and Australia complete the group of La Rojita, which was not at the 2016 Rio Games.

With six players present at the last European Championship (Pau Torres, Pedri, Olmo, Unai Simón, Oyarzabal and Eric García) and other stars such as Asensio, Ceballos and Mikel Merino, the Spanish Olympic team is the most valued of the tournament. Its staff, according to Transfermarkt data, reaches a value of 546 million, followed by Brazil (344), Argentina and Germany (128) and France (122).

Japanese goal

Half of the Euro sextet was part of the eleven of this Saturday in Kobe: Unai Simón was under sticks, Pau Torres left central and Dani Olmo right winger. The lineup was completed on perico Óscar Gil, Barça Mingueza, Miranda, Zubimendi, Merino, Ceballos, Asensio and Rafa Mir.

Equality was maintained during the first half, in which Spain was seen with desire to dominate but without excessive spark. Japan was more vertical and found the prize with a zurdazo de Doan (m. 42). The player of the PSV culminated an action of Kubo with a missile unreachable for Unai Simón.

Fundamental retouch

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De la Fuente introduced a triple change after the break with Bryan Gil, Oyarzabal and Moncayola, but the fundamental retouch came with the appearance of Pedri, who entered the 67th minute with the parakeet Javi Puado. Ceballos and Asensio left the field.

The Barça star, chosen as the best youngster of the Eurocup, contributed fluency to the game Spain. His passes cracked the Japanese defense and soon the chances came. Oyarzabal stroked the tie in a shot that went wide (m. 70) and, seven minutes later, a shot from Puado diverted by Soler unintentionally (m. 77) served to seal the final tables. The play was born, of course, in the boots of the magician Pedri.

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