EDUCATION CITY STADIUM - DOHA - QATAR
How are you? The Spanish national team led by the Asturian Luis Enrique, has been left out of the World Cup Qatar 2022, this to not being able to beat the goal of the selected Morocco in the 90 minutes of regulation, nor in the 30 of extra time, translating this to that everything would have to be decided in the penalty shootout resulting in an adverse result for the red, a real catastrophe for an entire nation, whose league is considered one of the best in the world, leaving us several reflections of this elimination, which we will address below in my next bibliographic material on this world cup and this phase of the round of 16.
SIN NADA / WITHOUT ANYTHING
Since he arrived at the Spanish national team's bench, Luis Enrique brought with him a lot of controversy, due to his calls of certain players to represent the country, and along with them a series of methodologies and tactical operations that were highly criticized, but that in this walk towards this world championship were working, fulfilling the passivity of those who said that it could be done in a better way, But the results accompanied him until here, leaving very good sensations in his first presentation against Costa Rica, one also good against his similar of Germany, and one that generated many doubts and controversy at the same time, in his last presentation of group stage, where much speculation that if he had gone out to lose to be second in his zone and avoid possible rivals of higher category as Brazil later on his way to conquer this trophy.
The tactical performance is not all bad, I just think that they did not take the right players for it, if we analyze, beyond the results of the group stage that we all know, Luis Enrique's team had a wide ball control, as is characteristic of them, But that was not accompanied by a verticality and a dribble, so to speak, to culminate or generate a play that ended in a real danger, that is to say, they had a lot of time passing the ball from one side to another but there was never that maneuver, that imbalance that culminated in a goal against higher level rivals.
The game that was used by the Asturian, is more of having many protagonists in the goal, if we look at it, there were different players who scored goals, but never had a reference that was the one that made the difference, or the one that stood out against all, or simply the representative of the national team, if we look at the other teams, each has its top figure, Argentina has Messi, France has Mbappe, Portugal has Cristiano, Brazil has its own with Naymar, England is led by Kane and so on, and Spain what. ? they never had that referent and Sergio Busquets as captain does not have that temper and that attitude as maybe Sergio Ramos would have had, that even if he had a lot of injuries in the last seasons with his respective clubs, when representing his country I think he would have been another thing.
That basis is so real, that all the players mentioned above and their respective selections are alive, and not only that, they are already in the quarterfinals, interesting isn't it? It is a sample that the Spanish national team was lacking of that and the clearest proof was the match against Morocco; in this World Cup Luis Enrique, went more for players that in the end happened the most painful of all I would say, who did not see minutes of play, case of Erick Garcia, Hugo Guillamon, Yeremi Pinto and Pablo Sarabia, the latter only played 2 minutes against the Africans, leaving out many players that according to many experts were in better capacity to represent Spain in this World Cup.
In this game against Morocco Spain achieved an incredible total of 1019 passes, 714 more than the Moroccans, but the little depth of these, and the little verticality is evidenced, because the central defenders Aymeric Laporte and Rodri, were the ones who completed more passes, 223 and 182 respectively, in addition they shot 13 times, but most of those shots were far away from the opponent's goal, only 2 of them were direct to goal, where the Moroccan goalkeeper was almost not demanded, despite the great possession shown by the Spaniards of up to 77%, an incredible amount of time with the ball and little damage was caused offensively speaking.
On the other side, Marrueco also had his merits, to endure such performances in numbers of the Iberians, his physical awakening was one of the strongest, plus he knew how to come out in counter punch to generate some chances that in the end did not end in goal but we were left with the excellent response in defense of the Africans who at all times remained orderly, keeping his goal in I believe, and taking everything as far as possible, until you get to the lottery of penalties.
MISION IMPOSIBLE / MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Once again and for the second World Cup in a row, Spain has been out of the World Cup in the Round of 16 and by penalty kicks, this has become a real ghost for the Europeans who have a very sad history in these set-piece contests, remember the fall suffered in the World Cup in Korea Japan 2002, when in the 4th round they were defeated 5 goals to 3 against the hosts of that event, South Korea, a great expectation around that selection that could not go further in that World Cup that ended up winning Brazil.
Luego en la edición pasada, en 2018, precisamente en contra de los locales, la selección de Rusia, la roja correría con la misma suerte al caer derrotados y dejar un sabor amargo en su afición, al no poder superar la tanda de penales cayendo 4 tantos contra 3, repitiendo la historia en este 2022, al tan siquiera anotar un gol en los penaltis, al irse en blanco en los tres intentos que tuvieron y caer de manera estrepitosa y muy clara 3 goles contra 0, esto gracias a las intervenciones del portero de Marruecos Bono, que a la postre fuese nombrado el jugador del partido, una pena de verdad para esta selección de España que venía con mucha ilusión y a la vez mucha controversia para afrontar este torneo y que de nuevo haya quedado fuera bajo la sombra de la famosa tanda de los penales.
Then in the last edition, in 2018, precisely against the locals, the selection of Russia, the red would suffer the same fate to be defeated and leave a bitter taste in their fans, unable to overcome the penalty shootout falling 4 goals to 3, repeating history in this 2022, not even scoring a goal on penalties to go blank in the three attempts they had and fall in a resounding and very clear way 3 goals to 0, This thanks to the interventions of the goalkeeper of Morocco Bono, who in the end was named player of the match, a real shame for this selection of Spain that came with much illusion and at the same time much controversy to face this tournament and that again has been left out under the shadow of the famous penalty shootout.
HASTA LA PRÓXIMA / SEE YOU NEXT TIME
