OLYMPIC GAMES | Two decades without a goal

Spain carries 7,602 days without celebrating a goal in soccer in the Olympic Games. To find the last footballer who scored a goal in an Olympic event, you have to soar until September 30, 2000, in Sidney, when Gabri scored the 2-0 on the final against Cameroon. That target meant the beginning of a tremendous jinx for La Roja that is beginning to become an obsession.

The misfortunes started in that same ending: In 45 minutes, Cameroon tied the game (with an own goal by Amaya and another by Eto’o) and Spain lost on penalties a gold that he savored for many minutes.

It took 12 years to get a chance for revenge and the london quote 2012 It had all the ingredients for Spain to return with a medal. Luis Milla, the coach, gathered a fantastic group of players, among which were three that came from win the euro (Jordi Alba, Javi Martinez Y Juan kill). They were joined by others like De Gea, Íñigo Martínez, Koke, Isco, Rodrigo, Ander Herrera, Azpilicueta or Muniain.

Aside from the fabulous roster of players, the lottery had been kind: Japan, Honduras Y Morocco they were the rivals. Nobody could suspect the failure that was coming: La Roja lost to the Japanese (0-1), fell by the same result against Honduras and closed the mess with a goalless draw against Morocco. He left London with one point and without scoring a single goal.

Now him beginning It was not a disaster, because the draw against Egypt (African champion, it should not be forgotten) can get good with a victory against Australia. But the jinx with the goal is still there, since Spain was not a gale against the Egyptians but it did have two very clamorous occasions: the ball crashed into the post by Dani Ceballos and a header at the pleasure of Rafa Mir that has rarely been seen to fail.

The statistics speak for themselves and nobody doubts the smell of this Selection: Olmo, Oyarzabal, Soler, Asensio, Mir… The roster of footballers with ease to see the door is wide, but should uncork as soon as possible the goals bottle so that the problem does not become chronic …