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Football EM: Spain vs. Croatia - The own goals are getting more and more absurd

2021-06-29T14:02:28.468Z


In the European Championship round of 16, Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón first caused slapstick, but then made his coach rave about it. A criticized striker created the decisive moments against Croatia.


Enlarge image

Spain keeper Unai Simón scored a historic own goal

Photo:

Jonathan Nackstrand / AP

Scene of the game:

After 20 minutes, the Spaniards were behind in the European Championship round of 16 against Croatia and didn't even know why. Goalkeeper Unai Simón wanted to stop a back pass from Pedri from 45 meters with his foot, but the ball jumped over his right foot into his own goal (20th). Before and after that, Spain played like a favorite for the title and not like a team that had only reached the round of 16 with a win in their third group game. It was already the ninth own goal at this European Championship. In all previous finals of the European Championship, a total of nine goals were scored.

The reparation:

Spain goalkeeper Simón prevented in extra time that it was a very bitter evening for him.

Croatia initially had the better chances after regular time.

The best was thwarted by Simón when he parried Andrej Kramarić's shot from just under seven meters away (96th).

"Today Unai Simón was a role model for all young players who want to become a professional footballer," enthused Luis Enrique.

“Of course it was a serious mistake on his part today.

But he did some fantastic parades after that. "

The result:

Spain defeated Croatia 5-3 after extra time and are in the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship.

You can find the match report here.

Number 5 (alive):

After the group stage, coach Luis Enrique was accused of not only setting up the wrong striker with Álvaro Morata, but generally not taking the right players with him. And yes, many deserving national players had to stay at home. After two draws at the beginning, captain Sergio Busquets was able to play again for the first time in a 5-0 win against Slovakia after a Covid 19 illness. And the strategist led his team to the round of 16, where he orchestrated his team to ensure that Spain dominated the game for long stretches of regular time.

The first half:

Nevertheless, the Spaniards were behind with the own goal. Before and after the deficit, Spain played like a title favorite and not like a team that had only reached the round of 16 with a win in their third group game. By the time they scored their own goal, the Spaniards had almost 80 percent possession, won more tackles and had good chances to score. It took the Spaniards ten minutes to digest the 0: 1, after which it was a game to score again, also because the Croatians now had a reason to concentrate primarily on the defensive. The 1: 1 by Pablo Sarabia (38th) was the logical consequence.

Badly timed shoe change:

Ante Rebić was not on the field when equalizing.

The striker did not have to be treated, but changed his shoes.

The first Spanish hit was temporarily outnumbered.

Two records for Pedri:

Spain's greatest

hopes for

young talent secured two entries in the EM history books in this game: as the youngest player in a knockout game and with the own goal from the greatest distance.

Regardless of the records, the 18-year-old played a strong game, including the 3: 1.

The second half:

After the break, the audience in Copenhagen initially saw the same picture as before. The Croatians were constricted at the rear for long stretches, which fell 2-1 through César Azpilicueta (57th), followed by a goal from Torres (77th). The game was apparently decided. The fact that Dani Olmo left the 4: 1 was only worth a side note at first. But then Mislav Oršić met out of nowhere and the turmoil in the Spanish penalty area to connect (85th), before Mario Pašalić, who had just been substituted, equalized in stoppage time (90th + 2nd). To write that this was not an indication is an understatement, but: It was not an indication.

Badly timed drinking break:

Joško Gvardiol used an injury break from an opponent to drink. So far, so common. However, the Croatian defender apparently missed the moment when the game continued. When Aymeric Laporte played the ball before the 3-1 diagonal ball to Ferrán Torres, Gvardiol threw away his water bottle and ran in the direction of Torres to let himself be played off by this with a body deception. Torres pushed in alone in front of goalkeeper Dominik Livaković.

The extension:

Morata experienced a lot of ridicule from home and much worse at this EM.

Due to some missed opportunities, including a missed penalty against Poland, his status as the only top in Spain has been questioned in part maliciously.

Most recently, the 28-year-old even reported death threats against his family.

In the round of 16, he scored the 4: 3 (100th minute of play) in extra time for his team at a time when Croatia seemed closer to goal.

The striker was also involved in the 5: 3 (103rd).

Is that a good omen?

Spain and Croatia had already met at the European Championships in 2012 and 2016 - each in the group stage.

The Croatians won the European Championship in 2016, when Spain won 1-0 in 2012, they later became European champions.

And the Croatians?

Despite the narrow defeat in the end, they have to ask themselves why they had nothing to oppose Spain over 70 of the first 90 minutes. With Ivan Perišić (corona infection) and Dejan Lovren (yellow card) two pillars of the team were missing. Nevertheless, it was clear for a long time why the Croatians could only secure the preliminary round with a victory against Scotland on the last day of the game.

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2021-06-29

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