The public also plays in Kiev

If we talk about Kiev and we talk about football, it is inevitable that our memory will take us to 2012. When thinking about it, a song by Sabina in which the one of Úbeda, paraphrasing the poet Felix Grande, says: “To the place where you have been happy, you should not try to return.” But there Spain returns, to Kiev, where it was happy and experienced its last great success with 4-0 to Italy in the final of the Eurocup disputed eight years ago now. Unforgettable. I don't know if that was also living beyond our means, but it was joyous.

Spain and Ukraine meet again in this group stage of the Nations League and things have changed a lot since the duel played just a month ago in Madrid (follow the game live on As.com). Then an uncomfortable rival was looming that finally ended up losing 4-0 and that since then has settled its three games played with as many defeats. On the eve of that meeting there was talk of Ansu Fati (The azulgrana came from debuting with The Red versus Germany in the Nations League premiere), but not as much as after the clash, as it was he who was in charge of breaking the door down by forcing the penalty that led to the first goal in minute 2 and by signing the 3-0 with the one who entered the history books by becoming the youngest player in the National Team (then he was 17 years and 311 days old) to score since he did so Juan Errazquin in 1925 (before Switzerland, with 18 years and 344 days).

But there is another remarkable aspect that differentiates that meeting of Valdebebas of the one that is being played today at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev: the public. The Ukrainian team will enjoy the support of their fans tonight (it is estimated that around 15,000 will be in the stands), something that a Luis Enrique it doesn't take away your sleep. The Asturian prefers to see the glass half full instead of half empty: “Playing with spectators is somewhat optimistic because it seems that we can find normality. I will tell the players to think that they are cheering us on.”

Regarding the possible starting eleven, the coach kept his letters in yesterday's press conference, which is logical not to give clues to Andriy Shevchenko. De Gea will once again be under sticks and everything points to Pau Torres once again being the partner in the center of Ramos' defense, of whom we are not surprised if a smile escapes today as soon as I step on the grass. There he started in the aforementioned 4-0 against Italy in 2012 (Busquets and Navas are the other two players who, together with Beds, remain from that European champion team), also in the final of the Champions 2018 disputed in front of Liverpool, that of his brushing with Salah and the acrobatic goal of Bale. It is likely that Rodri will act as a helm after the two consecutive games played by Busquets, while Rodrigo Moreno could once again have the opportunity to form in attack. Gerard Moreno and Diego Llorente finally stayed in Madrid due to their muscular problems.

Opposite, Shevchenko looks for chairs and tables in Kiev where he can touch wood in the face of the bad luck that has followed him in recent days. COVID-19 knocked out its starting goalkeeper, the veteran Pyatov, and his reference center half, Stepanenko. The former Ballon d'Or nor can he count on two other of his goalkeepers, Pankov and Lunin, so the national honor remains in himBushchan gloves, who comes from conceding seven goals in the friendly with France (7-1) and starring in a blunder on Saturday against Germany (1-2) that leaves our rival tonight penultimate in Group 4. Malinovskiy and Zinchenko are also ruled out to face a Spanish team of which Shevchenko affirms that “it does not give you facilities to do what you want”. That's what soccer is about, playing and not being played. And in which the public vibrates in the stands. Today is a new step towards real football.