The proper names of Spain on their way to Qatar

With the 1-0 victory over Sweden, Spain achieved the goal of being in its twelfth consecutive finals of a world, an achievement available only to the greatest, such as Brazil, Argentina O Germany. It is very unfair to have to highlight names in a Spanish team that works as a collective and that does not have a figure that shines much more than another. That does not mean that in the eight games played and suffered by the Roja on his way to qualifying for the Qatar World Cup 2022 there have been no prominent players who deserve a special mention, starting with their coach. A classification, by the way, reached with six victories, one draw and one defeat. Spain has scored 15 goals and conceded six. In the eight games he has seen the door.

Those proper names would be the following:

LUIS ENRIQUE

From the first day he said that if there was a leader in the National Team it was himself, assuming all the responsibility and pressure. His greatest virtue has always been in knowing how to surround himself with committed, hard-working people and defend them through thick and thin. His team is one hundred percent imbued with his spirit and character. He has formed a group in which not everyone believed and from which he has obtained an enormous performance.

UNAI SIMÓN

Stability in the goal is one of the keys to any soccer team. In the case of Unai Simon, the bet that the coach has made on him has double value. His sometimes risky style of play has generated much criticism, but his merit has been in knowing how to endure them and respond to them with key performances when the moment required it. The confidence of ‘Lucho’ in him has been his support.

LAPORTE

The only defender whose ownership in the National Team has been indisputable. Fixed in the initial line-ups, the only doubt in that area has been to know who would accompany him, if Iñigo Martínez, if Eric Garcia, if Pau Torres … Nor have the full-backs had a fixed occupant: Azpilicueta, Carvajal, Marcos Llorente, Gayà , Jordi Alba, Marcos Alonso … Only Laporte has always maintained that line.

SERGIO BUSQUETS

Talking about the Spanish team in recent years and not talking about Sergio Busquets is an understatement. With or without the captain’s armband, the FC Barcelona footballer continues to be irreplaceable. Nobody interprets the game of position as he does, nobody knows how to guard the ball as much as he does. Against Sweden he played his 133rd match with La Roja, equaling Xavi Hernández. Only Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas surpass him.

GAVI

The great revelation and great hope for the future of the Spanish team. At 17, the FC Barcelona midfielder has behaved like a veteran. Luis Enrique risked his call and they rained down sticks. The coach bet even more and even made him the starter. Quite a success. It has been one of the best. His personality and strength has been noticed. In La Cartuja his name was chanted several times.

FERRAN TORRES

He was injured in the Nations League and that has prevented him from playing the decisive games against Greece and Sweden, but it does not take away his previous work. He is the top scorer for La Roja with Luis Enrique as coach and also the one who has scored the most goals in this qualifying phase, with four. Key piece in the offensive gear of the Asturian coach.

SARABIA

Another of Luis Enrique’s fixtures in the starting eleven, due to versatility, overflow and intelligence as a winger. Also for his defensive work in the pressure from above on which the coach insists so much. In this qualifying phase he has scored two goals, one against Georgia and the other the most important in the victory by the minimum (0-1) in Greece.

DANI OLMO

One of Luis Enrique’s right eyes. His extraordinary versatility in the most offensive positions make him a basic piece. He is also that type of footballer who likes to look for the opposite goal as soon as they give him an opportunity. Against Sweden, Morata’s victory goal comes preceded by his whip to the crossbar. He has scored two goals in this phase, against Georgia and Kosovo.

MUST

If anyone deserved to be the protagonist with a decisive goal that was Álvaro Morata. Substitute start, avoided with his ‘target’ Sweden to go through a few agonizing final minutes. The forward has lived with criticism for some mistakes since the last European Championship, but the support of Luis Enrique and his teammates have helped him to reverse the situation. He also scored in the first match against Greece.

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