Despite the defeat to Japan, the Spanish press rejoices… La Roja’s second place
The Spanish press criticized La Roja’s poor performance in the game against Japan (1:2) on the third day of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar. But the media praised finishing second in Group E and thus avoiding a part of the table with Brazil, Argentina and Croatia.
In Germany, apart from the controversial goal conceded to the Japanese, we will probably break the line-up lined up by Luis Enrique against the Blue Samurai on Thursday. The Iberian coach, who initially failed to qualify for the round of 16, nevertheless rotated and his team lost to Japan (1:2) this Thursday during the 2022 World Cup.
After qualifying, the local press praised the technician’s strike, avoiding Brazil, Argentina and Croatia before a possible final. Despite the poor performance of the day against Japan, La Roja exited Group E thanks to the success of the Germans against Costa Rica (4-2).
>> Japan-Spain (2-1)
A big “thank you” to Germany
To thank the Hans-Dieter Flick group of the AS newspaper, it was worth writing the cover with “Danke” (sic). Same story for Marca, who recognized Spain’s form as a “shame” if it didn’t go through because of a second Japanese goal. Here again, the daily insists on a qualification achieved “thanks to Germany”.
But we do not forget the non-occupation of the Spanish option on the other side of the Pyrenees. Both in commitment and collective play, Pedri’s partners were disappointed. From there, to say that the Spaniards did not do everything to win… is basically a lie.
“We didn’t want it to happen, our intention was to win,” Sergio Busquets assured TVE. We wanted to be the first to leave this group. We did not want to choose our opponent. The other side, like the group second, but that doesn’t mean it will be more or less difficult. We must continue. We still have the 1/8 final with Morocco, which will be a very difficult match.”
“La Roja continues in the best part of the table”
Despite Sergio Busquets’ denials, defeat to Japan does the job for Spain’s selection. To understand this, it is enough to read some editorials from the local press. On the side of Mundo Deportivo newspaper, if we are a little worried about La Roja’s low level of play, we are happy to finish second in Group E.
“The only positive on paper is that Spain finished second in the group and avoided Croatia, Brazil and Argentina.” One of the daily editors said that La Roja continues in the better part of the tournament against Morocco, Portugal and France. .”
Without remembering that there can be surprises in football: “Apriori. Because the Spanish team played on foot in the first round and Luis Enrique Busquets, Olmo, Gavi, Pedri, Rodri… and Japan thought it was not necessary to rest. fresh people were needed.”
“I can’t beat anyone”
Marca is a little more measured. Still, we regret the match where La Roja should not have made old bones in the competition by playing like this. But the good news is that this defeat against the “blue samurais” allows us not to challenge Croatia in the 1/8 finals of the world championship held in Qatar. The other good news is that there are no possible defenders against Brazil. A potential semi-final against Argentina.
“A collective collapse that needs to be urgently repaired in three days, because it is impossible to win against anyone like this,” he even scolded one of the journalists in his text. “Neither on the easy side nor on the hard side (of the table), it will not be possible with games like Japan.”
In Catalonia, too, in Sport we appreciated seeing La Roja face Morocco and then Portugal before playing against the Blues or the Three Lions: “A priori, the road to the final seems easier for Spain, although it is already known. that the favorite can be knocked out along the way and the two routes that seem most logical can be seriously altered.”
