After the goalless European Championship draw against Sweden had to Spain The national soccer team listened to a lot of criticism from fans and the media. In fact, the offensive game of the Iberians seemed relatively tame and lacking in ideas. The anger of the outsiders was directed specifically at Alvaro Morata. Before the second Group E match against Poland on Saturday (9 p.m. / live ORF 1) the Juventus striker was demonstratively backed. The return of captain Sergio Busquets gives the Spaniards courage.
Whistles from their own fans should not be repeated in the duel of those who have not yet won. Morata in particular, who was on the pitch until the 66th minute, got this on Monday. The center forward hadn’t done much against Sweden, but he wasn’t alone in his team. As in previous tournaments, “La Roja” was dominant, but in the last third of the attack there was no readiness for constant movement and sparkling ideas.
Luis Enrique’s team struck an unmatched 917 passes, resulting in 85 percent possession. However, contracts in the danger zone were too seldom, and the few major opportunities were sometimes miserably missed. “We basically want to create every game the same,” the coach promised that the tactics would also work against Poland won’t change. The only change he will ask of his players is to make use of the goal chances.
Morata has a good chance of playing again from the start in the center of the storm. On Friday evening he should take a seat at the press conference in the Estadio La Cartuja at the side of coach Luis Enrique – which should be understood as a signal. And the teammates also gave Morata courage in the days after the fans expressed their displeasure again. “He’s one of the best players in Europe,” said Paris Saint-Germain’s Pablo Sarabia. “He looks strong,” said Morata’s rival Gerard Moreno from Villarreal. “He is trusted by all of us.”
Captain Busquets should also help to increase confidence. The 32-year-old from FC Barcelona was welcomed back by the team at the EM camp in Las Rozas de Madrid the day before the game after having had corona quarantine. It remains to be seen whether it will also be used. “There is no problem, he has been asymptomatic for the past twelve days and has been able to train at home. He is in the right shape to play,” said Luis Enrique. In the opening game, Busquets was replaced by Rodri.
The Spanish defense will also be challenged more than against the extremely defensive Swedes. Because someone has to make amends after the 1: 2 defeat against Slovakia, i.e. to score one or more goals: Goalgetter Robert Lewandowski. The problem of Poland but is different, at least from the point of view of many critics in the country.
“We’re all waiting for him to score, but these goals won’t fall because he doesn’t get any balls with which he can and should,” wrote the Polish sports newspaper “Przeglad Sportowy” on Friday. It is Lewandowski’s sufferings that seem to bother the author. The Spaniards would be a hot title candidate right away with the Bayern star.
Team boss Paulo Sousa hopes for an explosion of the star striker and a surprise for his team. “We have to see how we can hurt them so that in the end we have the result we want. If you are not really determined and convinced, with or without the ball, you can hope, but you will not make it “explained the Portuguese.
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