The team fairly lost (0-1) its friendly in London three months before the Euro Cup
MADRID, 22 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s soccer team lost (0-1) against Colombia this Friday in a friendly duel held at the Olympic Stadium in London, from more to less until running out of play or chances in a second ‘coffee’ half, which uncovered doubts in Spain facing the Eurocup this summer.
Luis de la Fuente’s team deflated in their pressure and search for the rival goal, an offensive game that, in reality, left almost no dangerous chance. Colombia, a team that has not lost a game for two years, scored a great goal from Daniel Muñoz after the restart, and put a stop to the good feelings that Spain was bringing on its way to the continental event in three months.
The Spanish team demonstrated from the beginning the hunger of the new generations, players with few caps for Spain and the debuts of Dani Vivian, Pau Cubarsí and Álex Remiro, but who want their place in the EURO. However, the passing of the minutes smiled on the South Americans and Spain finished a discreet match. In an unexpected eleven, ‘La Roja’ did not lack bite, pressure and effort to take the match to their own ground, but they did miss more depth and chances to avoid a 0-0 lead at half-time.
In fact, Spain went from more to less, the opposite of a Colombia that proved to be a team with high confidence. Alejandro Grimaldo, representative of Xabi Alonso’s great Leverkusen, initially put fear into the coffee growers’ body. The South American team erred on the side of respect and let Spain do the arriving on the left wing, with De La Fuente’s team also starring with the ball.
The triple European champion bit into the pressure, without negotiating the effort of Mikel Merino or Gerard Moreno, and looked at the rival area whenever she raised her head. The Real Sociedad player left good finishes from the second line but Spain lacked more danger in their chances: the best, a header from Vivian.
The intention to go far on the other side, with Pedro Perro, failed due to the work that Luis Díaz gave in some races and, little by little, Colombia was taking Spain out of its field. Néstor Lorenzo’s men did not have a clear goal option either, a rehearsed action with a set piece and a shot from Carrascal, but they went to the locker room with the feeling of having stopped the momentum of ‘La Roja’.
After the break, the Colombian coach first opted for ‘plan B’ and found a reward, also taking advantage of the inertia that was already favorable to him, despite a chance by Gerard Moreno that was cleared by goalkeeper Vargas. James Rodríguez jumped off the bench and, along with that step forward in intensity, took the ball. The former Real Madrid player and Díaz revolutionized the coffee growers, until they achieved 0-1 just when De la Fuente had his changes on the wing.
The Liverpool player’s run left debutant Vivian on the ground and, at the far post, Daniel Muñoz appeared with an acrobatic shot to beat Álex Remiro who had come on for David Raya for the second half. Then Álvaro Morata, Nico Williams and Álex Baena jumped in, seeking to change the face of Spain.
De la Fuente’s team regained some pressure up front and, in a recovery, Baena had the option of catching the rival defense out of position. Colombia, which at times liked James for a Colombian-majority crowd, reached the level it brought from a two-year streak without losing and also knew how to defend itself.
Yamine Lamal was the last Spanish option to try to appear, but the young FC Barcelona player did not appear either, or his teammates, such as Nico Williams or Morata, did not find him. Baena wanted to earn his bread inside, but there was no respite in Colombia, the second being closer than the tie in the final minutes.
A bad start to 2024 for Spain, which lost its first match of a year with the Eurocup, a friendly but at a time when it is time to strengthen the candidacy. Fortunately, on Tuesday, at the Santiago Bernabéu against an entire Brazil team, De la Fuente’s team will have the opportunity to retaliate and recover their feelings to give good news in the midst of another delicate moment for their Federation, with searches and arrests of the Civil Guard.
–RESULT: SPAIN, 0 – COLOMBIA, 1. (0-0, at halftime).
SPAIN: Raya (Álex Remiro, descanso); Porro, Vivian, Laporte (Cubarsí, min.83), Grimaldo; Zubimendi, Merino, Sarabia (Lamine Yamal, min.72), Gerard Moreno (Baena, min.62), Oyarzabal (Nico Williams, min.62) and Joselu (Morata, min.62).
COLOMBIA: Vargas; Daniel Muñoz, Carlos Cuesta, Lucumí, Mojica; Castaño (Richard Ríos, rest), Jefferson Lerma, Jhon Arias, Carrascal (James, rest), Luis Díaz and Cassierra (Santos Borré, min.75).
0 – 1, min.61, Daniel Muñoz.
–REFEREE: Michael Oliver (ENG). Without reprimands.
–STADIUM: London Olympic.
