Oslo (AFP)

Spain misses the opportunity: joined in Norway on a penalty conceded in extremis (1-1), the "Roja" missed the opportunity to ensure from Saturday its qualification for the Euro-2020, she will have a new chance to win on Tuesday in Sweden.

In Oslo, the half volley of Saul (47th) could have qualified the Spaniards for their seventh consecutive final phase in this competition, which they won three times (1964, 2008, 2012), But the hazardous exit of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga , fist forward, cost a penalty in added time, converted by Joshua King for the Scandinavian equalizer (90 + 4).

With 19 points in Group F, the "Roja" is still in excellent position to finish in one of the first two places, having distanced Sweden (2nd, 14 pts) and Romania (3rd, 13 pts).

This draw conceded on the wire is raging for the new coach Robert Moreno while Spain was close to chain a seventh success in as many days in these playoffs.

But despite this mixed game, the record remains positive for the young Catalan technician (42 years), named at short notice in June after the departure of Luis Enrique, bereaved by the death of one of his daughters: Moreno has still not lost a match on the Spanish bench.

- Spain pushed to blame -

And he managed to inject new blood into a team deemed declining in recent years after experiencing his golden age with a historic tripled Euro-World-Euro between 2008 and 2012.

From that time, there are only a few big names, such as defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets or defender and captain Sergio Ramos (33), who became Saturday the Spanish player with the most selections (168) by improving the record. He had previously co-owned with his former teammate Iker Casillas (167).

For the rest, the young have seized power, like multi-purpose midfielder Saul (24 years): a half-volley from outside the surface (47th), the player of Atlético Madrid has unlocked an intense match where Spain was jostled by Norway.

As for midfielder Fabian Ruiz (23), he sent two shots on the amounts (67th and 89th) that could have sealed the victory and qualification of his team ...

The fact remains that the small Spanish players suffered late in the game against the physical challenge imposed by the Norwegians, who pushed the "Roja" to fault.

Ramos was given a yellow card which will deprive him of the trip to Sweden due to the accumulation of warnings; and Kepa, until then vigilant (39th), was at the worst moment, raising his competition with David de Gea.

Party surrender therefore, provided not to flop Tuesday against Sweden ...

© 2019 AFP