Spain’s new crew struggled with the acquainted issues on Monday as a string of missed probabilities allowed Sweden to hold on for a goalless draw of their Euro 2020 opener in Seville. Alvaro Morata wasted the very best alternative of a dominant first half, wherein Spain churned out 419 passes, essentially the most of any crew on report within the opening 45 minutes of a European Championship fixture. Morata was whistled by his personal followers when substituted with 25 minutes left, with Luis Enrique now dealing with questions over his choice to go away out Gerard Moreno, the Villarreal striker who scored 23 targets final season.
Spain misplaced their rhythm after the interval and Sweden would possibly even have received it, the superb Alexander Isak hitting the publish earlier than his strike accomplice Marcus Berg missed a sitter from two yards out.
“They determined to defend, defend and defend. It was a really unfair consequence,” stated Luis Enrique, who additionally complained in regards to the pitch. “The gamers struggled to manage the ball,” he stated.
A goalless draw leaves Spain enjoying catch-up in Group E after Slovakia earlier pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over Poland, elevating the stakes for the sport between Spain and Poland on Saturday, when a loser could be left struggling to qualify.
One other failure to transform possession into probabilities was paying homage to current disappointments for Spain, most notably after they have been pissed off by Russia on the 2018 World Cup, earlier than going out on penalties.
Within the wake of that defeat, Luis Enrique was tasked with launching a brand new period as coach, a undertaking that concerned selling a contemporary crop of gamers but additionally a extra direct, penetrative model.
His crew have been spectacular within the first half, a far cry from a number of the ponderous passing shows that made Spain look outdated in current main tournaments.
However the second half drifted, maybe by way of a insecurity and even sharpness, given the crew have been unable to coach collectively for many of final week, separated in keeping with protocol after Sergio Busquets, nonetheless absent, and Diego Llorente examined constructive for Covid-19.
Sweden coach Janne Andersson, in the meantime, promised on Sunday his crew would “run like hell” they usually not solely defended resolutely however carved out arguably the 2 finest probabilities of the match.
Ibrahimovic’s inheritor obvious Isak impresses
Isak, the 21-year-old, who scored 17 targets for Actual Sociedad final season, confirmed why he is among the most rated younger strikers in Europe and Spain would have been relieved when Andersson took him off with 20 minutes left.
“It wasn’t raining probabilities though they’d a number of possession,” stated Andersson. “We might have misplaced the sport, we might even have received it.”
The Spanish host metropolis was switched to Seville after Bilbao was unable to ensure UEFA’s desired variety of followers and with 12,517 supporters inside La Cartuja, the ambiance was as heat because the climate, with the temperature over 30 levels Celsius.
Kick-off was briefly delayed whereas one of many nets was fastened and on the sideline Luis Enrique sat perched on the sting of an ice-box.
His crew swarmed throughout Sweden within the opening 10 minutes, racking up 100 passes to their opponents’ 13.
Twenty minutes was up earlier than Sweden discovered a foothold in Spain’s half, a throw-in up the pitch prompting Andersson to leap off the bench and applaud.
However Spain saved passing and the possibilities saved coming, Koke steering huge after one other drained Sweden contact within the space after which ballooning over after he met Jordi Alba’s ball in.
The perfect alternative although fell to Morata, the ball discovering him within the field after Marcus Danielsson didn’t clear Alba’s clip, however with the purpose gaping he curled his end huge.
Already, Spain appeared to really feel the load of their misses and Sweden nearly landed a sucker-punch, Isak’s end diverted by Marcos Llorente onto his personal publish.
The sport drifted after the break and Spain light, their earlier urgency fizzling into one thing a lot much less convincing. Sweden ought to have taken the lead as Isak twisted and turned within the field, making sufficient house to tug a ball to the again publish the place someway Berg failed to attain.
Promoted
Each groups made adjustments for the final 20 minutes, amongst them Isak going off for Sweden and Morata departing for Spain, changed by Moreno.
Spain surged within the last minutes and Moreno nearly grabbed a winner, his flicked header flying in the direction of purpose however saved out by the precise foot of Robin Olsen, who intervened once more in damage time to disclaim Pablo Sarabia.
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