Spain overcomes a difficult situation in its U-21 European Championship debut against Slovakia

They had a happy ending, but football is very difficult. They saw they had won, but they slept on it and let their opponent dream. La Rojita 's debut was filled with emotions: joy, laziness, fear, and pride. It ended with a bit of luck. A goal from a set piece by Tárrega in stoppage time broke the 2-2 tie on the scoreboard in the 90th minute. The first battle won on points, with two remaining.

Santi Denia said in the preview that "the first game is the one that makes the tournament." The La Mancha native was right, given that in groups of just four teams, losing one of three matches can put you on the edge of qualification. However, Spain, a specialist in upsetting hosts consecutively since 2019, only got lucky when they lost that first match. At that European Championship in Italy, the defeat to the Italians was the prelude to a fifth U-21 European Championship for the team coached by Luis De la Fuente . The other three opening matches, like this Wednesday's, have all ended in victory.

On paper, Spain were not better, but much better than a Slovakia that was coming off three consecutive defeats against, precisely, the rivals of its older sister in the recently concluded Nations League Final Four. Teams like Portugal, Germany and France easily defeated this Kentos team, disciplined but lacking in talent, as did the boys from Denia . In the 15th minute, possession was 78% to 22% and in the 17th the scoreboard already read 0-2, which could have been more if Diego López had been more lively in an action in the area and Turrientes adjusted the crosshairs a few centimeters on a shot from outside the area.

That advantage and sense of superiority caused Spain to take a step back midway through the first half, which Slovakia took advantage of to trouble Iturbe . Initially, they waited for Spanish mistakes, then with a bit more brazenness, spurred on by a crowd deeply involved in the match. They couldn't move the scoreboard, as the Spanish defense didn't allow any easy shots, and Iturbe saved the ones that came at him weakly.

And this Spain of Denia , if it could count on the players that the Club World Cup teams didn't loan out (they weren't obliged to) and those that De la Fuente 'stole' from the senior team, would have a quality that would be very difficult to stop. The U-21 coach was also unlucky to lose Yeremay in the build-up to the match, perhaps the most imaginative winger in this team, with great control but little edge.

Although Mateo Joseph has it made. That's eight goals in just 11 matches, a much higher average than his entire career, both for club and international football, given that the Cantabrian has played 10 matches representing England, in which he has only scored three goals. The Leeds striker scored the second just two minutes after Pubill opened the scoring. Both goals were scored with the connivance of the Slovakian center-backs, who never knew what was happening behind them.

The second half began with two blows caused by Marcelli 's mischief. The first came after he got between Tárrega and Mosquera and stole a ball that they recklessly let bounce. He held on until Kopasek arrived alone at the far post, from where he smashed it into the top corner. He then did the same behind Bueno , who had come off after an injury to Gerard Martín . He held on to the ball again, not to give it away, but to wait for the clash with the Feyenoord player. A penalty and a goal from Suskov . He was back in the game to get back on the ball.

Scare

But the match took off, back and forth, which was bad for Spain. Against inferior teams, you have to control the match, either put it to sleep or crush it, because otherwise, as Slovakia's coach Kentos said beforehand: "We're not the favorites, but we have our dreams." In these cases, it's better to be the bogeyman than the respectful roommate. Spain wanted to be the first in the final ten minutes, but they ran out of time and ideas.

Until a corner kick led to a mistake by the Slovak defense. Another one. They fell asleep after a rebound from Mosquera with Tárrega , a 190-centimeter-tall man, alone in the penalty area. Belko helped with a quick exit, allowing the center back to put a soft header into the net. He escaped with pride and luck. It's good to start winning, but not always, just ask De la Fuente.