The question would have been appropriate, but she did not come: “What planet did you come from?”, She would have been a quote from a famous live report by Uruguayer Víctor Hugo Morales from the 1986 World Cup.
Not that the act of the Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón in the penalty shootout against the Netherlands would have been as extraordinary as the famous dribbling by Diego Armando Maradona against England, which the raw material for morals’ moving description Bot. But before the National League quarter-finals against the Netherlands, Simón had recalled that he maintains a special relationship with another radio reporter, Fernando Burgos from Onda Cero. Simón said that he would no longer answer his questions; Because of a dispute at the European Championship 2022 in Germany. At that time, Burgos had the goalkeeper live on the radio, well, insulted: “This Marsmensch … pathetic!”, He should never come back, this Simón.
But then he was again, this time in Valencia, and secured the 5: 4 victory in penalty shootout by parrying the shot of ex-dortmunders who migrated to Aston Villa. Defending champion (and European champion) Spain was thus qualified for the final four tournament in Germany, after 2: 2 from the 90-minute first leg and the 3: 3 from 120 minutes second leg. For the duel with France, the Spaniards return to Stuttgart on June 5, to the place of the EM quarter-final against Germany, or: to the birthplace of the so-called “Cucurella” hand, which has long since become a fixed, dud-worthy term. In a possible final in Munich, Spain would compete against the winner of the game Germany against Portugal (June 8). Spain was there in two of three National League final: The defeat against France in 2021 followed the Victory against Croatia.
The quarter -finals against the Dutch provided confirmation that a few certainties remain valid. For example, that the Spaniards can still act on the level that led them to the European Championship title in 2024; That you maintain a style that works even without the long -term injured midfielder Rodri, right -back Dani Carvajal and real nine – and that you only need to turn a stone to find a top talent: what is for a central defender of the Dutch -born but spanish -socialized Dean Huijsen, 19, from AFC Bournemouth! “Spain remains enlightened,” the newspaper joined the newspaper El País.
The victory should steel the Spanish self -confidence even more, since the Dutch opponents had really played well over the entire route of the 210 minutes. Both in the de Kuip from Rotterdam and in the Mestalla to Valencia: teams that were trained by Ronald Koeman have never played better (especially not Valencia FC in the 2007/2008 season). “We demanded everything to you,” said Koeman; “It was a spectacle,” added his Spanish colleague Luis de la Fuente.
Leipzig’s Xavi Simons gives the good game of the Netherlands a new dimension. Alone, it is not enough.
On the North Sea, the Dutch led 2-1 before the last-minute scorer from the European Championship duel with Germany, Mikel Merino, struck in injury time and made the equalization. On Sunday, the Dutch on the Mediterranean did not fought back into the game after residues, but had advantages whether they could have claimed the victory. Memphis Depay (54./Elfmeter), Ian Maatsen (79.) and Xavi Simons (109./Elfmeter) made up for Mikel Oyarzabal’s double pack (8th/elfmeter, 67.) and the gate of Lamine Yamal (103.). Spain stumbled, especially after the Lipzig Simon Leipzig, gave the game of the Dutch a new dimension. The gateway to the 2-2, which Simons initiated, came about by a spectacular absurd misfortune of Dani Olmo at the penalty area. Alone, it wasn’t long.
Nobody tasted better than coach de la Fuente, a confessing and practicing Catholic that the Spaniards had to show suffering. “When we speak of the fact that we have to suffer, it seems as if it is negative,” said de la Fuente, and only the Hall of Gothic Cathedrals was missing to give his words a really pastoral sound: “I don’t understand the sport without suffering.” In the belly of Mestalla, de la Fuente also took a credo: “This team is insatiable and ambitious. She wants to win further titles.” Also on German stages, and in doubt with goalkeepers from Mars.
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