Unai Simon He has gone from villain to hero in a week. Much criticized for his mistake in the round of 16 tie against Croatia, he recovered in that same game and It has emerged as the mainstay of the National Team in the quarterfinal crossing, against Switzerland. The goal of Athletic take the path of Iker Casillas. The former captain was decisive in the penalty shootout of the Euro 2008 when stopping two pitches against Italy, the same ones that Simón stopped before Swiss on St. Petersburg.
The 'Spain of Gold', the one that closed the circle with the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 201 European Championships0, rested on Iker, who took several penalty shootouts at critical moments, which changed history. Before the 2008 European Championship, Mostoleño became a giant in the 2002 World Cup, in Korea and Japan, when stopping Ireland from eleven meters. But perhaps the most important penalty from Casillas was the one who stopped Cardozo in the quarterfinals of South Africa 2010, which definitely helped the victory against Paraguay. Then, at Euro 2012, Iker Casillas was again the 'parapenaltis' when stopping Portugal in the semifinals of the tournament. Moutinho he launched and Casillas saved the first penalty that gave the advantage and then the victory to Spain.
Unai Simón picks up that baton and already has his first batch to remember. He got it thanks to the help of Luis Enrique, which told him how to get over the moment. “I have told him to move, to put pressure on the pitchers. Also to be calm, that he was going to do well. I have seen him save many penalties in Athletic and I knew he would do it well. It is said that penalties are a lottery, but it is not true. Factors such as the player's confidence, the goalkeeper's poise, his own nerves and the opponent's nerves influence factors. It is not something that can be trained, but they are not a lottery, “explained the Asturian coach after the game.
Unai was more sparing in words, but no less expressive: “I don't like to make public the conversations I have with my coach, but I will say that Luis Enrique has had a lot to do with us getting through this tie thanks to penalties.”