EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT FOR SPAIN
Unfair. In a word, the elimination of Spain against Portugal in this U21 Eurocup could be summed up in this way. An excessive punishment for a team that had chances of all colors and that, due to bad luck when defining and due to a tremendously unfortunate action by Almería center-back Jorge Cuenca, have left him without playing the final next Sunday.
From less to more, Spain gradually took over the party. Bryan Gil first, and Brahim later, carried all the offensive weight of a team that was resisted by the goal, but that had Portugal on the ropes repeatedly. The start of the second half was brilliant by Luis De la Fuente's men. Cucurella smashed the ball into the wood after a shot from mid-range after receiving Brahim's pass.
Cuenca and Brahim himself also had their chances immediately after the Getafe footballer's auction. There was even referee controversy in the match, especially in the second half. The Spanish footballers asked for a penalty at game time after a game between Brahim and Diogo Leite in which they demanded sufficient contact from the Portuguese central defender. Finally the collegiate did not consider the action punishable to decree the maximum penalty.
When everything seemed to be decided in the last minutes, or in extra time, a Portuguese counterattack led by Vitinha ended with a pass from Vieira who was looking for Jota at the far post and Jorge Cuenca, when putting his leg to clear the goal. ball, introduced the ball into his own goal. There was nothing Álvaro could do, who was completely caught off guard by the unfortunate clearance.
Bad luck that condemns an under-21 team that, despite this elimination, has played immaculate football and that has not found its reward in this match for the superiority seen on the pitch. Portugal will wait for a rival between the Netherlands and Germany.