Unai Simón's obstacles with Spain: from a debut in the midst of a pandemic to "abuse" of uncertain origin

Two details about what Unai Simón (Vitoria, 27 years old) is like.

One. Yesterday, the day after beating France, he was one of those chosen to speak to the press. The communications department arranged three huddles: television, radio, and print media. Unai, Zubimendi, and Fabián were to complete the three relays of the circuit. After speaking on TV, Unai was headed to the locker room until a Federation employee told him: "No, no, you have two left." "No way!" he joked, answering everything he was asked.

Two. Last Saturday, the national team players, after finishing training, were required to sign autographs and take photos with the fans. Some tiptoed around the issue ( Nico and Lamine ), and others arrived late to dinner. In this latter group, there was only one player. Unai Simón (Vitoria, 27) rushed off at two minutes to nine, urged on by a member of the communications department, to the residence, where dinner was scheduled for nine o'clock sharp. Although there are no images to confirm this, he was definitely late to the table. To the table and to the television, where PSG was already running roughshod over Inter Milan.

Spain's goalkeeper is back in the spotlight. In fact, he hasn't left it since Luis Enrique gave him his debut, in the midst of the pandemic in November 2020, against the Netherlands. The Asturian chose him, in part, because he was (is) one of the best goalkeepers in the world playing with his feet, and that's highly valued in modern football. However, his sometimes excessive calmness has sparked some controversy surrounding him over these nearly five years. Not among coaches (after Luis Enrique, Luis de la Fuente never wavered), but certainly among the press and fans.

However, a look at the numbers settles the debate. Of his 48 appearances for the national team, he has lost four, and two more ( Italy in the Euro 20 semi-finals and Morocco in the World Cup 22 round of 16 ) on penalties, drawing in regulation time. At the same time, he was decisive in several penalty shootouts ( Euro 20 quarter-finals against Switzerland, Nations 23 final against Croatia, and Nations 25 quarter-finals against the Netherlands ). On Thursday against France, he found himself in a curious situation: he conceded four goals and saw two shots on target, but he came out looking like a hero thanks to the six saves he made, some of them, like one from Mbappé in the first half, spectacular.

Perhaps that's why Luis de la Fuente came out swinging to vindicate him, something that probably wouldn't have been necessary at this point. "I'm especially happy for him, because he's a player you've mistreated," the coach said, to the surprise of some. "Well, maybe not you, but yes, he has been mistreated," he insisted.

"Abuse is perhaps not the right word. We've been criticized, but we have to live with that criticism. Perhaps the coach is referring to a period after the World Cup in Qatar, which was difficult for the national team, but time heals all wounds," he himself softened yesterday, also sharing a detail about his personality. "We all like to be flattered. But I don't pay much attention to criticism, good or bad, if it doesn't come from my coach, my teammates, or my mother."

In reality, and beyond the fact that footballers and coaches deliberately confuse a handful of agitators with "the press," Unai has never been mistreated in general. He's been criticized for his mistakes on the field, like everyone else, and the person who probably understands this best is himself, who doesn't flinch from his beard because he has so much personality.

He has the nerve to tell a journalist he wouldn't answer a question because he was disrespectful, and he has the nerve, for example, to defend Vinicius loudly and clearly when the most regrettable episodes of racism occurred. "I understand that there are players like Vinicius who explode. We don't see what happens in the lower categories, kids from Basauri and Santutxu who go through similar things. It's something we should all change. It's a societal problem. I don't understand why it happens. I'll never understand or share it," he said in 2023. And that in Bilbao, one of the most hostile strongholds for Madrid and its controversial players. Unai is a man without ties.

From that calm, he is now the leader of the dressing room in the absence of Laporte and Rodri . In fact, against France he was the team captain and will be again tomorrow against Portugal, where he could win his third consecutive title with a team he has been playing for since he was 15. The first coach to call him to travel to Madrid was Santi Denia , currently in charge of the U-21s. "His career is spectacular, and he's a great teammate. He always contributes, no matter where he's at. I hope someone now recognizes his work," concluded De la Fuente, asking for something that already existed.