From fatality to fiesta, Spain relieved after Slovakia rout

For a few minutes it looked like Spain were at their worst. For a few instants fatality invaded the Spanish players. It seemed their cards were marked. That Morata missed a penalty, the fifth in a row for Spain missed, made it worse.

But they did not lament it and kept pressing. It went well, they reached the next round and did what Luis Enrique had anticipated before the game.

“My worry level is a seven,” he admitted. “In conviction I am at 10, I think we are a bottle of cava about to be uncorked. If we win, we’ll see our best version.”

It happened, but they needed a push. A moment of pure chance. Slovakia’s goalkeeper spiking the ball into his own net.

Martin Dubravka’s own goal liberated Spain. And they were freer still after Laporte struck. From there they were a pleasure to watch, with Busquets the lighthouse they needed before. He provided order in attack with his minimalist play. His experience told in a game where they could have been potentially knocked out. 

Luis Enrique picked Eric Garcia, Barca’s new signing too, but he was untroubled. Pedri was sublime, more aggressive, looking for the killer pass, taking more risks. Jordi Alba too.

Everything Spain looked for against Sweden and Poland they found against Slovakia. Above all an efficiency that turned the game into a party for Spain. Five goals and chances for Adama and Thiago to get minutes.

Ferran Torres too, and he scored one of the finest goals, a backheel. This was what Spain needed, a game to reaffirm themselves.

It gives the team confidence and proved Luis Enrique right. They almost won the group but Sweden snatched first place at the end. 

So it’s Spain against Croatia, not against Ukraine or the Czechs, and it won’t be easy against Luka Modric and Co next Monday. In the end, fatality became ‘fiesta’ at La Cartuja.