LONDON: The Spanish Euro 2020 campaign began to fall apart and ended in pain from the defeat of penalties by Italy in the semi-final but this in the end was the story of redemption and updates that gave them a lot of hope for the future.
Young side Luis Enrique is not a favorite for the tournament or against Italy but they produce a bold and thrilling look in 1-1 lottery at Wembley and dominate extra time but cannot make their superiority count and lose the battle from place 4 -2.
It fits on the tournament where Spain often cannot change their chances.
However, above all there was a sense of pride after winning over their doubts, after being stated by their own supporters in Seville and were highly criticized by experts at home and abroad.
“I have seen many positive things, young players who contribute so much.
The aim is to form a team and make fans proud of their players and we do that,” said Luis Enrique.
The coach certainly did not start the campaign with everyone behind him after he left the captain and maker of the appearance of all time Sergio Ramos while naming no player from Real Madrid in his troops, with disappointed many famous experts.
Further the shift came shortly before the tournament when the new captain Busquets plus Diego Llorente was tested positive for Covid-19, preventing the squad from conducting a group training session for a week.
The opening of the draws against Sweden and Poland on the patch field at the La Cartuja Stadium which swept the atmosphere of triggering the main headline and their chances were quickly abolished.
Luis Enrique firmly defended his side, especially the non-consistent striker Alvaro Morata, and compare Spain to a bottle of champagne that would not be tasted.
They then spelled Slovakia 5-0 and beat Croatia 5-3 in extra time, with Morata scored extraordinary and important goals.
Their quarter-final victory in the punishment against Switzerland did not inspire but they saved their best performance for the last against Italy, with children such as Dani Olmo and Pedri came forward, even though the match ended with tears.
“Honor” said the front cover of Marca newspaper on Wednesday.
Although frustration came so close to making the final, the feeling at Wembley could not be more different from the Luzhniki Moscow Stadium after their elimination to Russia in the 2018 World Cup, which felt like the end of the era.
Starting from something great “we have to think this can be the beginning of something great,” said Eric Garcia defender.
Garcia is set to lead defense for years to come with America Laporte, who switched nationality from France a month before the tournament began.
“We have so far, we have seen the other side that is stronger than us on paper and falls before us.
There are many changes, many new faces but what we do is very spectacular,” said Laporte.
Spain is only one third of their campaigns to qualify for the 2022 World Cup but already have their views in Qatar.
“We showed that this team was ready for the World Cup,” Jordi Alba said.
“We will see what happens at the World Cup because there will be big sides like Argentina and Brazil but we will fight and seek to play a big role.”