Glasgow: 13 years of the final decided from the goal

Swiss referee Massimo Busacca signaled the end of extra time with 2-2. Espanyol raised the arms and celebrated it as a victory after playing with ten from minute 68 and to be seen 1-2 with four minutes to go. The 2007 Spanish UEFA final, held in a rainy season May 16 in Glasgow, had to be decided from the penalty shootout. “I have admired Palop my entire career. I remember you came to wish me luck. Had more cold blooded than me“recalls Gorka Iraizoz, then 26 years old, now the second goalkeeper (after Casillas) who more stops has done in the 21st century. “It was the first round of penalties of my professional stage,” he recalls.

Before that time, 120 minutes of excitement, unforgettable for winners and losers. “Espanyol started more comfortable than us”, he warns Palop, captain of Sevilla. “When they expelled Moisés we became more responsible,” says Iraizoz, who could not avoid the Kanouté 1-2 in extra time. “We knew that Navas usually focuses on the first low pole taking advantage of his start, but they marked us like this,” recalls the Basque goal, who left behind Jónatas 2-2: “I threw myself to the ground and squeezed my hands so much that the next day they hurt“A relief for Espanyol.” It was the final that I was most afraid of; We were able to solve the game but they tied us, “says Palop.

For Gorka, a hero throughout UEFA, the lack of experience In such a situation it was key: “With N'Kono we studied the pitchers. Kameni came to cheer me up,” he explains. Palop reflected more, tanned already in a thousand battles at his 32 years. “At Spanish normally the penalties were thrown by Luis GarcíaI knew Rufete from Valencia … During the match I saw that Jónatas was a safe pass player. There, in the batch, i thought i was going to ensure with the interior and I was right. The one from Torrejón, more or less the same, was a central defender with quality but his hit was to shoot at his natural side and I went with all confidence “. The Valencian stopped three penalties.

“When Torrejón failed, I turned around and saw Palop run like crazy. I was blocked, what happens, if there are five penalties. I stood for a minute or two, ” Gorka explains, that in his career he has played four finals more than that one. “Kameni hugged me and that moment is now one of happiness, it was an indescribable gift, it moved me.” Gorka took a hug and the warmth of his own. Palop another Cup and a boost to his career: “It was a final dream for all sevillismo. The second UEFA in a row. It was the best ending. Made me grow and it gave me a lot of confidence. “