elm saves the party

Just when we thought we had got rid of football without salt, of those friendly matches with which to artificially fatten up the calendar and that are of little use, a Spain-Albania match exploded in our faces, fueling our doubts. The final 2-1 lowers the soufflé of that National Team classified directly for the World Cup and how good it looked in the European Championship or in the Nations League. It was won, yes, with the final fifteen minutes of pure rock&roll, but the goals from Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo They are the only thing we can get clean from the match in Cornellà. Possession of the ball was ours but it was again innocuous against a rival whose tactical order choked us. On Tuesday, in A Coruña and against Iceland, awaits the second friendly of this FIFA break in which other teams play so much. Perhaps that being or not being is what truly feeds football.

Worst of all is that the game frustrated what was presumed to be a full-fledged party. It was enough to hear the shouting from the stands when the names of the Spanish internationals were announced over the loudspeaker to realize that the match was special. It didn’t matter that there were no points at stake, no rankings of any kind. The 18 years of absence of La Roja in Catalonia were reason enough to throw the confetti. Luis Enrique had asked for a party and, except for a piñata, there was everything. Well, no. There was no piñata and no glitter.

The casting in Cornellá he had David Raya under the spotlight. The Brentford goalkeeper, the great novelty of the call, was the starter in a tremendously emotional wink, Well, it was in the field attached to the RCDE Stadium where he trained in stopping everything that could be stopped. He came out calm, played well with his feet, one of the assets that has made Luis Enrique knock on his door, and he hardly had to work hard as Albania caused little concern in attack. Behind, yes, those of Edoardo Reja showed a good profile. Based on the weapons he had, the Italian lined up what could be considered the starting team. Strakosha’s under sticks was perhaps the most significant absence. A block with all the Italian seasoning that is presupposed to a selection whose last three selectors are from the country of the boot. Up to five members of the starting eleven (Berisha, Ismajli, Kumbulla, Djimsiti and Hysaj) play for Serie A clubs. The tactical order, of course, also had the copyright of Italian football, which since last Thursday has been in a deep duel after the KO against North Macedonia in the World Cup playoffs.

With that framework in front, the ball had to travel quickly from boot to boot. Perhaps that justified the presence of Pedri and Gavi in ​​midfield, escorting Rodri, who acted as helm in the absence of Busquets due to rest. The Barcelona pearls only need three walnut shells and a ball to finish driving the staff crazy. Every time they touch the ball they play it with sense, at least with the sense that is expected, except that when one gets used to that logic and trusts, they break with something unexpected. That’s called talent, in football and in every art imaginable. The first connection between the two was about to end in the first goal of Spain. Gavi finished in the 10th minute, but a clearance by a defender prevented any real damage. In minute 20 it was Pedri, who was making his debut on the 10 behind his back, who tried his luck, although his shot was blocked by Berisha.

But Albania wanted to show that it was not in Barcelona for a walk. In two long ball counters he put the Spanish defense in trouble. And as the minutes went by he increased his line of pressure until it complicated La Roja’s ball exit. Broja was his main flash. Each start of the Southampton striker showed her power, also her class. In one of them he forced a corner and in another his center was about to be finished off in a goal. Already in the second half, once again his driving the ball was about to cool down Cornellà, but the Spanish player Bare, who was playing at home even though he was a rival, finished off high.

Luis Enrique changed and changed, in reality it was a barrage of five relays in just eight minutes, with Alba, Olmo, Soler, Azpilicueta and Pino on stage. The effect was immediate. First, with a pass from Pino to Ferran, whose backheel cleared Berisha. And immediately afterwards, with a combination of the same protagonists that ended in a goal for the azulgrana. The can was opened and Cornellà sang louder, even dusting off the olés that had not ended in a goal in the first half. But precisely then, when La Roja looked taller and prettier, the Albanian crochet hit the chin in an unfortunate clearance by Pau Torres that Uzuni finished off on goal in the 85th minute. A tie that was already entering the history books (Albania had lost all seven of its matches with Spain) when Olmo armed his left leg and resolved the match with a parable to the top corner of those that seem eternal.