Recess time – AS.com

At the head of Spain's coaching staff there was a concern before the start of the tournament: avoiding excess euphoria. The Spanish list was, with objective data (its market value), the best in the championship by far. But there were other factors: the footballers arrive in preseason (except for the six of the Eurocup) and there has been little preparation time. The tournament has shown that they were not excuses: three of the four Europeans were left out at the first exchange. Other countries arrived with less level but more rolled. That excess of favoritism has weighed on the legs and the mind of the Spaniards, who have never managed to display their best game.

Now, La Roja is at the minimum that was required: the fight for the medals (follow today's game live on As.com). It is time to have fun, without that fear of failure that there was until reaching the semifinals ticket. To improve the game, a step in front of Pedri, the player who must put fantasy and last pass in the final meters. The canary, like the rest of the national team, has had good times but a brilliant game is missing from start to finish. Today is the perfect day for Pedri, because Japan is a team that will leave more space. It was seen in the friendly on July 17, where the Barcelona player gave a recital in just half an hour. That is the version that Spain needs.

De la Fuente, who has been included in the medical report (he broke a bone in his hand in a fall during the celebration for the victory against Ivory Coast), has been very thoughtful for days. The coach knows he has to make a difficult decision: what to do with Rafa Mir. Based on what was tested in the last training session, the Murcian enters the attack point and it is Asensio who falls from the eleven, with Oyarzabal on the right and Dani Olmo on the left. If he sticks to what has been rehearsed, that will be the attack trident. If not, it will surprise even the players themselves (it would not be the first time … nor the last). In the rest, he will switch back to the two sides. On the right Vallejo leaves with an advantage over Óscar Gil to replace Mingueza (discarded for the remainder of the championship) and on the left Cucurella enters for Miranda. In the middle, Zubimendi, Merino and Pedri repeat, who can have the reinforcement of Dani Ceballos in the second half (the Utrera trained yesterday and today they decide in a meeting if he enters the list).

What does not change is the rear, with Eric Garcia and Pau Torres protecting Unai Simón's goal. After an almost perfect tournament, against Côte d'Ivoire, the crack that they must cover before the boat is flooded was confirmed: the set piece. Two of the three goals against have come like this, with gross errors in the marks. The Japanese are not a particularly dangerous team in this area, but in today's football even goalkeepers score strategic goals.

Japan

It is the most favorable match for De la Fuente's men, although, contradictory as it may seem, it is the highest level selection. If Spain is in its best version, it will hurt more than others, but the scare will also be greater if it comes out little plugged in.

The Japanese have been preparing this tournament for years, they closed a perfect group stage (full of victories) and the agonizing pass against New Zealand in the quarterfinals (in the penalty shoot-out) has strengthened their confidence. They have the very important loss of central Tomiyasu (suspended) in a defensive line that has been very solid so far in the championship. The reinforcements of the three over 24 years (Yoshida, Sakai and Endo) have been fundamental to give packaging.

In attack, the partnership that Doan and Kubo form is extremely dangerous. They get along well on and off the pitch, they are in great shape and have complete freedom to unleash their imagination. If Spain leaves them space, they will cause a lot of problems. Japan is, broadly speaking, a very tough bone. But with these players Spain must not miss the train of medals …