“I don’t know.” This brief answer about his possible continuity in the Spanish team on the Wembley pitch as soon as the semi-final against Italy ended at Euro 2020 unleashed uncertainty. Some doubts that were much more outside than inside, where there was the conviction that Sergio Busquets I would continue in the Red.
Two months later, the one from Badía was summoned by Luis Enrique and on Monday he went to the Las Rozas concentration with the illusion of playing their fourth World Cup in Qatar 2022, with the addition of doing it as captain.
Lucho’s helm
Luis Enrique has it very clear both at the sports and wardrobe level. Busquets is essential. Nobody interprets the pivot position like him in the non-negotiable 4-3-3 for the Asturian. Rodri, from Manchester City, has not quite taken the step and no alternatives have emerged. In the recent Eurocup it was again demonstrated.
Busquets returned to the team in the third game against Slovakia and won two consecutive MVPs in that same game and in the round of 16 against Croatia. His level was very high throughout the tournament, despite coming out of isolation due to covid-19 at the beginning of the concentration.
The applause with which the rest of the team received him when he rejoined the Ciudad del Fútbol symbolized the great importance of Busquets in this young group. Sergio is a leader who is aware of all the details that surround the team, but in a discreet way. His mood has nothing to do with that of his predecessor in captaincy, Sergio Ramos.
The Andalusian staged his stripes much more. His command was evident in the booth, but also outside through the image he projected in the media. Busquets is not very fond of showing himself to the press. Beyond the unavoidable commitments, Sergio prefers to stay in the background and work in the shade.
He acts in a cerebral and calm way to promote a good atmosphere among the players and, on the field, with his interpretation of the positional game and the movements that Luis Enrique wants, he is an indispensable reference for everyone.
Ramos and Casillas
Busquets has had all the coaches since his debut in 2009: Del Bosque, Lopetegui, Hierro and Luis Enrique. This has led him to accumulate 126 international appearances. Sergio occupies fifth place in the ranking with the most matches in the national team, only surpassed by Ramos (180) and Casillas (167).
The player from Badía has the marks of his friends and teammates from the best midfield in history. Xavi (133) and Iniesta (131) narrowly surpass him and after participating in the seven games that remain until the end of the year, Busquets would equalize the Egarense and enter the Red podium.
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