Coming from the shadow Mikel Merino It alleviated the deficit that accompanies Spain in these Games and led it to the quarterfinals, in which it will face Ivory Coast on Saturday (10.00, Spanish time) in its condition of first group and thanks to the tie obtained this Wednesday against Argentina (1-1). Extra game, lack of definition. Domino, as always, but again she was tender in the final meters, when executing. In any case, the Navarrese appeared in Saitama to open the safe of the crosses and Unai Simón contained the final arreón of the albiceleste, dismounted in favor of Egypt. Two connections, then, are worth the pass: Asensio-Oyarzabal three days ago, Olmo-Merino this time.
As in the two previous meetings, Spain monopolized the ball and the script was practically traced; that is, one proposed and the other expected, with the difference that Argentina is not Egypt neither Australia, and manages terminal scenarios in another way. Sergio Batista’s team resigned to the ball and concentrated on short-circuiting the elaboration, sowing mines here and there, trying to take the duel to their land; that is, obstacles, disputes and a strong leg, waiting to steal and find a hole to materialize a transition, vertical three-quarters forward.
However, Spain did not enter the rag and adhered to the indisputable pattern defended by the coach, Luis de la Fuente: touch, touch and more touch. He dominated the first twenty minutes opening the field, with the clean output of the defenders and Zubimendi oxygenating; dynamic circulation, Cucurella deepening down the left lane and Asensio and Dani Olmo offering themselves on the sides of the attack. The madridista, decisive against Australia, He returned to eleven, in which Merino appeared again after the rest that the coach gave him on Sunday.
The Navarrese recovered stripes and took a step forward. In the absence of punch, his hierarchy and his incorporations from the second row are an inalienable asset, especially in games in which the rival closes and Spain must look for variables. Before Argentina, the script demanded to ruminate, but without falling into the trap of entanglement. Although there was only one owner of the ball and Dani Olmo struck first in a foul that Ledesma repelled with his particular record, the South American team cunningly gained meters; He stepped out of the corner, stretched, and took a breath with a couple of easing forays.
In the most dangerous, a MacAllister opening enabled Barco from the right profile and the dry shot from the end hit the side of the net, after Unai Simon touch with the fingertips. But it was a mere mirage. Although Pedri did not have his most inspired day, Spain continued the monologue and in a raid by Cucurella he was close to finding the prize shortly before intermission, but his precision in the pass from the baseline did not have continuity in the left boot of Oyarzabal, who threw his body back and defined too high. In any case, the Basque was once again the most intimidating element.
Simon enters the scene
In the resumption, the locker forced Argentina to stretch and go out under pressure. More exposed, it granted spaces and there Spain began to enjoy the pangs of Dani Olmo and creativity in the free trade zone. The Leipzig striker also had a very clear option, but he tightened the thread excessively and shortly afterwards Oyarzabal repeated, again with the wrongly adjusted sight, again up. However, Merino did not miss. The Real midfielder made what he usually does frequently, that virtue of appearing, and with a silky strike with his left foot, he validated Olmo’s drop at the first touch, after a center passed from Asensio’s right. Capital the captain.
From there, Argentina had no choice but to play a card and charged. He advanced lines and with very little he was not too far from getting those of From the source. But Unai Simón answered, that in this tournament he was being a privileged spectator until now. When required, he was. The goalkeeper intervened first with a poisoned shot and then exhibited reflexes in a failed clearance by Zubimendi from point-blank range. However, he could do nothing before Belmonte’s header, completely alone in the clearing that caused the mismatch in the marks of a corner. And there the thing stayed. Spain treads the rooms. He suffered them, but steps on them.
THIS IS THE ROOM CROSSINGS
10.00: Spain-Ivory Coast.
11.00: Japan-New Zealand.
12.00: Brazil-Egypt.
13.00: South Korea-Mexico.
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