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  • Analysis The intense stories between Spain and Italy (beyond Tassotti's nudge to Luis Enrique)

With a very low profile, without any intention of getting into puddles. This is how

Luis Enrique

has passed

in front of the microphones (that is to say, since everything has been virtual) in the preview of the Eurocup semifinal that this Tuesday faces the selection with Italy. The coach, in a room at the Marriott Regent hotel in London, only allowed himself to joke when asked precisely about the anecdote that haunts him every time he runs into Italy on the road. Of course,

Tassotti's

elbow

in the 1994 World Cup.

"It has been so many years ... I think my nose was even better! Nothing, I have been able to talk to him three or four times these years. I have found an honest, good person ...", explained the Asturian, who has revealed the good physical condition of all his players except the one already known from

Sarabia

, who will be low but who nevertheless continues with the expedition. "We are not an expert team, far from it, but that does not mean that the players do not have experience in playing important games on big stages such as Wembley," says

Luis Enrique

, who does not want to dwell on whether much or little has changed in these almost three years.

Because it was in the temple of English football where he began his journey as a coach, on September 8, 2018. "I don't know if I'm a better or worse coach than then, you have to judge that. I don't stop at that," began his answer, and when they told him that of that starting eleven there are only three players left in this European Championship, he explained it: "When I arrived I said that I wanted players to fly, and I'm still doing that, and I'll tell you what I'm going to continue doing" . Because he has also talked about his future, that he has a contract at least until the World Cup in Qatar, and that he feels fully supported by

Luis Rubiales

and

José Francisco Molina

, president and sports director of the Federation.

Returning to the game, he believes that the first battle will be to see who, if

Spain

or

Italy

, gets the ball.

"We want the ball, we need it and we are going to look for it. Italy can also adapt to playing without it, it has done so in some phases of the matches of this European Championship. We will see."

In any case, he was in charge of pointing out that he does not make the alignments according to the rival when they told him that neither

Chiellini

nor

Bonucci

had started training with the rest of his teammates.

Pedri: "I feel like one more"

On the eve of Spain's most important match since 2012, when he won his last title in Kiev, precisely against Italy,

Pedri

appeared

, just as he has been doing since the European Championship started. The guy who has traveled the most kilometers (61.5) and the youngest to compete in a round of this level. However, he handles himself from humility. "I feel like one more, for me the important thing is the team. From the starting eleven to the entire staff," he explained, following to the letter the mantra with which each gear of the national team moves. "We all contribute our grain of sand," added the Spanish midfielder who has played the most minutes.

A

Pedri

, despite his 18 years, does not impose the vertigo of the scene that will live in Wembley. "If I have the option, I will give everything for the team and work like the best," he said from a pulpit where, hours before,

Bonucci

, one of the icons of

Mancini's

Italy

, had been

. The ogre that now appears in the brilliant journey of

Luis Enrique's team

. "It is going to be a highly contested match in that aspect and the match will be taken by the one with the fewest errors," analyzed the Canarian player.

His lungs and legs, apart from their quality, have been vital for

Spain to

be at the gates of heaven.

"I always try to run a lot to help the team as much as I can," Pedri simplified the size of his effort, convinced that, against Italy, he will have to continue increasing his mileage for the matter to go well.

"The days after the game I'm tired, but I always try to rest, eat well and hydrate as they tell us here," he settled.

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Know more

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  • Spain Soccer Team

  • Euro 2020

  • Luis Enrique

  • Italy Soccer Team

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