Spain runs aground in the debut against Egypt

Spain started its journey in the Games with a stumble, now forced to make amends since the draw against Egypt requires it to correct and bite, there is no room for misunderstandings. He had football and elaboration, but he lacked the seasoning, more imagination. Bust the wall. Without definition again, he needs to give a arreón in the second stake in these Games, on Sunday against Australia, which this afternoon will face Argentina in the pulse that completes the group. He ran aground in a tough game that marred the debut in Sapporo, and the first change comes the warning: no matter how much payroll I present, half a team parading through the European Championship previously, more and better is needed. Gallons are not enough.

As happened in the preparatory against Japan, six days ago, Spain ran into a concrete wall that forced him to a constant exercise of patience, spinning and spinning in search of a crack.

Aware of its limitations, Egypt took refuge in a line of five defenses and shook water incessantly, forcing the duels and waiting for the counterattack, scratching at the slightest.

His footballers taught the studs from the start and in one of the first attacks, when only three minutes had elapsed, Fotouh already found Mingueza's right ankle.

Despite the setback, the side was able to continue, but a quarter of an hour later he suffered a muscular mishap that definitively removed him from the green.

As a relief, De la Fuente opted for Vallejo's more reserved profile.

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Egypt Mohamed El-Shenawy, Hegazy, Karim El Eraki, Ahmed El Fotouh, Mahmoud Hamdi, Osama Galal, Emam Ashour, Taher Mohamed, Ramadan Sobhy (Ahmed Ramadan, min. 92), Akram Tawfik and Ahmed Yasser Rayan Spain Unai Simón, Óscar Mingueza (Jesús Vallejo, min. 21), Juan Miranda, Pau Torres, Eric Garcia, Merino (Carlos Soler, min. 67), Dani Ceballos (Jon Moncayola, min. 45), Pedri, Oyarzabal (Rafa Mir, min. 67), Marco Asensio (Bryan Gil Salvatierra, min. 67) and Dani Olmo

Goals Yellow cards Ahmed El Fotouh (min. 5), Taher Mohamed (min. 43), Hegazy (min. 76) and Osama Galal (min. 88)

The setback was premonitory, the first thorn in a duel that demanded both skill and neatness. A trap. And in those Ceballos raised his hand, as fierce as he was energizing. His long stride in the transitions set the pace until the rival took out the mower again. Pedri blurred and with Merino in oxygenation work, the game gravitated on the Andalusian during the first act, but when time ran out he took an ugly footfall from Taher that knocked him out of action. Second

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. Earlier, a kick from the captain had crashed into the post and his association with Asensio opened a path, but the goal did not arrive. First, the southpaw shot tamely into El Shenawy's hands, and later drew a half-turn that ended with the stupid leg. Good intentions, blank bullets.

Down from Ceballos, the coach opted for Moncayola's legs and lungs. The inclusion of the Navarrese freed his pasiano Merino, which heeled as interior and gained presence in the three-quarter zone without success. Dani Olmo did not intervene, Asensio lost incidence and Oyarzabal's mobility as a false ram was sterile, so the rush began and the proposal was verticalized. Less ball at the foot, more ball in length. Spain renounced finesse and Egypt settled behind the back of defender Hegazy, its most notable footballer. De la Fuente shook the test tube with the entry of Bryan Gil and Carlos Soler, who provided good sparks in the final stretch, and also introduced Rafa Mir to reinforce the aerial record. The tank had it.

The offensive redesign shook up the game, while Unai Simon watched from afar without having to intervene once; Eric García and Pau Torres corrected a couple of innocuous skirmishes by the Egyptians, while Pedri got another good stomp, this time without consequences. The canary lacked freshness, like Olmo; capital pieces both in the Eurocup. This Spain with low biorhythms ran out of ammunition in the final stretch, but did not deliver the coup de grace. Bryan Gil, a dare to everything, saw the incorporation from Miranda's side and this served a delicate center that Mir nodded with power, but centered. Later, Soler released a dry shot that the African goalkeeper repelled in two halves; and almost on the horn, Vallejo went on an adventure and finished off a rained center from the left.

There a stake died from which Spain left with a good shear, with a crooked gesture.

There were intentions, but essentially that.

Much pass and few revolutions.

Ceballos absent, the electricity ran out.

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