Seville (Spain) (AFP)
Spain inflicted its worst post-war defeat on Germany, 6-0, to join France in the last four of the League of Nations on Tuesday in Seville.
We have to go back to a friendly match against Austria in 1931 (6-0) to find traces of a defeat for Germany by such a gap.
Six goals and a ticket to the semi-finals: in the closed-door La Cartuja stadium in Seville, La Roja has come out of its listless state of recent weeks (only one victory in the last five matches, 1-0 against Switzerland on October 10) to inflict on Germany its first setback in more than a year (September 6, 2019 against the Netherlands 4-2, in qualifying for the Euro).
Two heads on corners from Alvaro Morata (17th) and Rodri (37th), a magnificent hat-trick from the young winger (20 years) of Manchester City Ferran Torres (33rd, 55th, 72nd) and a final achievement from Mikel Oyarzabal (89th) allowed Luis Enrique's team, much younger since last year, to inflict on Germany one of the most resounding setbacks in its history.
- Ferran Torres, dream evening -
Aggressive, enterprising, the most beautiful team in Spain for years has put the defensive concerns of the Mannschaft in the spotlight: in the axis or on the sides, the curtain Matthias Ginter - Niklas Süle (replaced by Jonathan Tah at the break ) - Robin Koch - Philipp Max offered boulevards to the quartet of Spanish strikers Morata, Torres, Koke and Dani Olmo.
The results of the first period are indisputable: a single strike, not on target, on the German side, against 14 on the Iberian side.
And the fourth Spanish goal makes this observation even more glaring: after a very rapid recovery and transition, the Spaniards find themselves three against the only Max to conclude.
Ferran Torres, alone, has plenty of time to adjust Manuel Neuer.
The Germans have already given up.
On the Spanish side, Luis Enrique can smile: he who made the bet to deeply revamp and dust off this Roja since his return to the bench in the summer of 2019 saw his choices bear fruit on Tuesday evening.
And at the head of the gondola, the dream night of Ferran Torres: the young Manchester City winger, formerly of Valencia, scored a hat-trick in the national jersey when he had only one goal in six selections so far (last September 6 in the 4-0 victory against Ukraine).
- Ramos and Canales injured -
Only downside of the evening for Spain: the injuries of Betis Sevilla defensive midfielder Sergio Canales, who had to leave the pitch grimacing and holding the back of the left thigh in the 9th minute (replaced by Fabian Ruiz).
And especially that of the captain and central defender of Real Madrid Sergio Ramos, who gave way to Eric Garcia before the break (41st) by limping slightly and holding the back of the right leg ... which risks complicating the Real Madrid's business, also diminished by the injury of Raphael Varane with France against Sweden at the same time on Tuesday night.
With this victory, Spain has resurfaced criticism of Joachim Löw and his selection, and somewhat avenges Barça, strangled 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the last Champions League in Lisbon in August during the Hispano-German shock at the top.
It is especially added to the Blues in the last four of the League of Nations, which will be played on October 6-7, 2021 before the final of October 10, 2021. And we will know on Wednesday evening whether Belgium and Italy, in head of their respective groups (groups 1 and 2), will join them in the semi-finals.
© 2020 AFP