Jovic reacts

It was not with Real Madrid, with whom he has not just broken up after almost 18 months of presence, but Luka Jovic showed his quality in the match in which Serbia played their pass to the final phase of Euro 2021 against Scotland. The Serbs were eliminated in the penalty shootout, but the Madrid forward He was one of the positive faces of the Balkan team: he scored the goal that gave life (and extra time) to his team against the Scots (they won a few seconds from the end of the match 0-1) and transformed the second penalty shoot-out of his team in the fateful shoot-out.

Jovic started on the bench to be used as a trigger by his coach, Ljubisa Tumbakovic: he was entered in the 70th minute by Maksimovic. And yesu entry had a prize: he fixed the Scottish centrals, gave freedom to both Mitrovic at the top of the attack and Tadic so that he hooked from the midpoint by dropping down on both wings and even moved from the three-quarter zone to stretch to your selection … while maintaining another pulse with the match referee, Mateu Lahoz. The Valencian referee had to reprimand him a couple of times for throwing himself into the rival area (or in its vicinity), trying to deceive him. His award came near the end of the match. After warning with a header that was deflected, an action by him on the left wing led to what should be the last corner kick of the match. And there he appeared to finish off the ball, chopped. To Marshall, goal of the Tartan Army, did not give him time to reach the ball. Serbia was thus forcing the extension. Luka had not scored since February 9, when he did it in Pamplona after Fede Valverde's pass.

During those 50 minutes, Jovic was incisive, fighting in his own way, fierce, aggressive in the area. His penalty shot (short run, strong, powerful and at medium height) was about to be stopped by the Scottish goalkeeper. He showed character and commitment not seen before with the Real Madrid jersey. Perhaps because of the importance of the game, perhaps because of playing with his national team in pursuit of a jackpot such as playing a European Championship. But the sensations it left in Little Maracana Belgrade were those of a player who when given confidence and minutes can give a lot. Until now He has only participated in five games, four in the League (Betis, Valladolid, Cádiz and Valencia) and one in the Champions League (Shakhtar), in three of them (Betis, Valladolid and Shakhtar) he started as a starter and in all three he was substituted, he has only played 208 minutes in total and has not scored since last February (against Cádiz they canceled a goal for offside of Benzema). It has been more news for his life off the pitch (he skipped the confinement in Belgrade, was hunted celebrating a barbecue in Madrid with friends…). Even Zidane seems to have lost all confidence in him: in Madrid's last game (the defeat against Valencia) he has opted for the presence of Mariano before the Serbian, perhaps to stimulate him, perhaps as a warning. Jovic still has two more meetings with his team to finish finding feelings that force Zidane to continue trusting him. The tough schedule that Madrid will face after this national team break will need all its players. Including Jovic …