“What did you tell me Morata? That the goal is mine. But he has marked it, I have seen him there alone and I have decided to pass the ball to him”. And moments after Nico Williams made that decision, the Atlético striker honored her by scoring the goal that gave Spain the victory against Portugal and its consequent classification for the League of Nations.
“That’s the coach’s decision,” replied the Athletic winger, shy and roguish at the same time, when they asked him if he already saw himself in the worldwhere his brother Iñaki will undoubtedly be, in his case defending the Ghana shirt.
Nick, it’s obvious. win integers to be on the final list after being a definitive participant in the victory in Braga. He entered the field somewhat hastily, but at the moment of truth he was able to pick up Carvajal’s shipment and return the ball to the small area so that Morata scored at an empty goal, Diego Costa pending the movement of the Athletic winger. Luis Enrique You now have a little over a month to reflect on Williams and on another good handful of soccer players to adjust their final call for the World Cup.
A priori, you can then count on regular footballers in your plans who have been low in this summons. This is the case of Laporte, Iñigo Martínez, Dani Olmo and perhaps Ansu Fati, waiting for his participation in Barcelona to confirm his definitive recovery. Tricks like those of Sergio Ramos or Iago Aspas seem ruled out.
Spain’s competitive plan contemplates, for the time being, a single friendly match prior to the World Cup. It will be played on November 17 in Amman against Jordan, a small rival. The debut in Qatar will be on the 23rd, at the Al Thumama stadium, Doha. Germany (November 27) and Japan (December 1) will be the other two rivals heading to the round of 16.
After the appointment of Qatar, the following will be the final four of the League of Nations. 2023 will crown the winner of the third edition of the tournament and will be, with complete certainty, a new champion. Portugal, winner in 2019, and France, winner in 2021 after beating Spain in the final, have not qualified in the top four this time. Spain is accompanied by Italy, Croatia and the Netherlands, which will act as host, in the absence of official confirmation. The semifinals, still not drawn, and the final will be played between June 14 and 18 next year.
Under-21 goal
Spain received good news last night, although it was not in Braga, but in Huesca. There, in El Alcoraz, the sub’21 resolved their friendly against Norway with a resounding 3-0. José Gragera, Abel Ruiz and Hugo Novoa scored the goals for Luis de la Fuente’s team, which continues with its preparation, with its sights set on the European Championship that will be played next summer in Romania and Georgia.
The two host teams, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Israel will be their possible rivals in the first phase. The last four qualified yesterday, after emerging victorious from the playoffs.
