The European champions failed to score against Serbia! This implementation of Spain is a crime
Grigory Telingater September 6, 2024, 00:10 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
The Euro 2024 winners had a poor start to the Nations League.
The Nations League has started in Europe. We have already explained why this tournament is far from friendly, but it is important for the qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Thus, even the European champions presented their main squad for the match against Serbia in Belgrade. True, compared to Euro 2024, Rodri (recovering from injury) and Alvaro Morata (retired from the national team) were absent. It turned out that the main striker of the Spanish national team turned out to be 31-year-old Ajosé Pérez from Villarreal, who at the age of 31 played only 12 minutes in official matches for the Spanish national team.
The match started exactly as expected. The visitors immediately took possession of the ball (more than 70% in the first 20 minutes) and the home team committed serious fouls. The first yellow card, already in the fifth minute, was for Erakovic, whom we know well from his performances at Zenit.
The Spaniards quickly adapted to the Red Star stadium and regularly reached the opponent’s box. The fun football that was at Euro 2024 has not disappeared. The ball went close to Predrag Rajkovic’s post several times and then a surprising episode occurred. The Serbians definitely had the best moment of the first half. Luka Jovic was on the verge of offside and had the perfect opportunity to open the scoring, but he shot wide.
Luka Jovic’s mistake
Photo: Frame from the broadcast.
In the second half, the structure of the game finally took shape. The Spaniards besieged the Croatians’ gates and occasionally broke away to counterattack. The ball did not stay in the centre of the pitch. The number of shots in the match quickly exceeded 25, but the score was never opened. In the 70th minute, the Spaniards had a great moment: first Alex Grimaldo took a dangerous free kick and a moment later the ball went inches wide of the post after a shot by Lamin Yamal. Spain’s main talent in this match made eight dribbles (four successful) and four shots (one successful).
The Spaniards attacked so much that they literally did not let the hosts breathe. The physically strong Serbs (especially compared to Yamal) covered the blows again and again. Luis de la Fuente used his own weapon against his opponent: he threw the powerful Joselu into the middle of the attack. The striker struck with his head and heel and almost won the penalty.
Serbia – Spain – 0:0
Photo: Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images
As it turned out, “almost” is the main word that describes this meeting. In the end, the Spaniards controlled the ball 73.7%, but this possession cannot be considered sterile. It is surprising that with so many chances, no one scored. As for the Serbians, a draw with the European champions should dispel a little the rumours about Dragan Stojkovic’s resignation.
But the Russian team had no problems with goals that day:
Russia defeated Vietnam thanks to a ridiculous own goal. Karpin made 4 newcomers play at the same time!
