The (timely) end of the curse on penalties and RDT's surprise: "I was shocked to see myself start"

• Chronicle Spain, with the World Cup ready after a hurried victory in Athens

• Luis Enrique "We are going to take risks, even if it benefits our rival"

• 0-1 in Athens Narration and statistics

• Opinion Luis Enrique, approved in History, by Carlos Toro

• 2-0 Sweden Georgia does Spain a great favor

• Group B Results and classification

• The Lawnmower What anguish in Athens!

An hour before the match started in Athens,

had worked something like a miracle. Few in the national team were counting on Georgia to help out. But he did, after resisting a formidable siege in the first half, with

,

and

, as protagonists. But it was the Georgian striker, with a double, who gave Spain the option to appear in Seville as the first in the group. The possibility, after beating Greece, that a draw at La Cartuja against Sweden, a result that already occurred in the same scenario during the group stage of the last European Championship (0-0), is enough to get the direct ticket to Qatar . “We are not going for a draw, but for victory. Long live the pressure ”, proclaimed

, after achieving the victory.

After 11.30 pm at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Spain went to the locker room with a smile for their victory over Greece. Luis Enrique's 16th number in 30 games as coach. The Asturian's pulse does not tremble when it comes to giving the alternative to anyone. If it's on the list, you can play. It happened with

, who retired yesterday with a blow to the face, in the hectic battle against Italy, on the grass of San Siro, in the semi-finals of the League of Nations. And it was repeated last night, in Athens, with Spain risking their passport to the World Cup.

(27 years old) went directly to the starting 11 against Greece. The Espanyol striker, LaLiga's top national scorer with seven goals, started with Morata and Sarabia.

A trident that would have had

not been for his injury.

From Tomás, who debuted with the number 6 on his back and that RDT as a license plate, he can now tell what it is to wear the red jersey of the national team.

Several times they went through his boots.

In one he seemed frightened.

In the next it was a defender who miraculously scared off his lash.

"I did not expect.

I was shocked when I found out I was the starter.

But I knew that the teammates were going to help me, "admitted the forward after his first 55 minutes with La Roja.

"I know RDT and watching him train I liked him a lot, I have seen him with a perfect attitude and I have thought about putting in artillery," the coach dedicated him after the game.

From Ramos to Sarabia

But it was from a penalty that Spain was packed towards Qatar. And that had been more than a year without taking advantage of a maximum penalty (separate batches). The last one to do it was

, in the 4-0 win against Ukraine. That turned out to be a curse because it was followed by two errors in the same game by Ramos himself (against Switzerland), another by

, in that friendly against Lithuania marked by Covid, a fourth by

against Poland and the fifth, by

, against Slovakia. These last two in the recent European Championship. Last night it was

who firmly grabbed the ball to put the count to zero, after

fell into the Hellenic area.

Sarabia has five goals in 15 games for Spain.

Of course, when his companions left, he gave the military salute that he always dedicates to his father.

appeared after the hour

, surpassing Iniesta in caps (132) and is only one behind Xavi.

For Spain it will be enough on Sunday to draw against Sweden to go to the World Cup.

«I remember that as a player we qualified for a World Cup (USA'94) with a spectacular atmosphere in Seville, despite playing with one less against Denmark.

That's what I want for Sunday ”, asked the Asturian coach, with qualifying ready.

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