Luis Enrique suffered a night of frustration as his Spain side fell short in their efforts to make a winning start to their Euro 2020 campaign despite dominating a determined Sweden side.
Enrique’s side created a succession of chances but were unable to find a way past keeper Robin Olsen at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, and they might have ended the evening empty-handed had Sweden striker Marcus Berg not failed to take the best opportunity of the game in the 61st minute of the game.
While Spain impressed in possession, particularly in the first half, they demonstrated a lack of composure in front of goal and Enrique will know they must develop a more effective cutting edge as the tournament progresses.
Spain were keen to put their disrupted preparations behind them – Sergio Busquets the captain was missing after testing positive for Covid – and while they started confidently, their failure to break down a resolute Sweden despite the one-sided nature of much of the game will give Enrique some cause for concern.
There was a familiarity in the way Spain kept possession, moving the ball swiftly and precisely across the pitch signalling this could be an uncomfortable evening for their opponents. During a one-sided 45 minutes, Enrique’s side enjoyed 84 per cent possession but had been unable to translate their territorial dominance into goals and would have found themselves trailing but for the help of the woodwork.
Jordi Alba delivered a couple of testing early crosses that unsettled the Swedish defence and Dani Olmo fired over from a corner but Swedish keeper Robin Olsen remained largely untroubled until Manchester City winger Ferran Torres picked out Olmo with a cross from the right in the 6th minute.
Olmo got in between the Sweden centre-backs to direct a close range header goalwards but was denied by Olsen’s excellent reaction save.
There was no respite for Sweden as Spain continued to press high up the pitch. Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke was twice presented with the opportunity to score his first international goal after making strong runs into the visitors’s penalty area but failed to find the target on both occasions before their best opportunity fell to Morata, six minutes before the break.
The forward found himself with clear sight of goal after a mistake by Swedish defender Marcus Danielson but he placed his shot wide of Olsen’s far post from just 12 yards out. Morata’s failure to make the most of that gift almost appeared even more costly two minutes later when Sweden staged a rare attack.
Alexander Isak got in behind the Spain backline to collect a lofted ball forward, rounded centre-back Aymeric Laporte before drilling a shot past Unai Simon only to see his effort denied by covering full-back Marcos Llorente who sliced his attempted clearance against the post with the ball rebounding into the arms of the grateful Simon.
It was a clear warning that Spain could take nothing for granted and Olsen’s save from Olmo’s long range shot immediately before the break only added to the frustrations of Enrique’s side.
The pattern was maintained at the start of the second half with Morata again guilty of failing to find the target after another error in the Swedish defence. Once again, though, it was Jan Andersson’s side who came closest to making the breakthrough in the 61st minute after more excellent work by Isak.
The youngster demonstrated excellent control to work his way past three Spanish defenders inside the home area before squaring across the face of goal towards Marcus Berg who managed to lift the ball over the bar from just six yards out.
Enrique introduced Thiago Alcantara and Pablo Sarabia in an attempt to restore some of the urgency and intensity that had faded from his side’s play. Sweden were determined in the way they stuck to their task and when Gerard Moreno flashed a glancing header towards goal in the final minute of normal time, Olsen was again on hand to save.
More from i on Euro 2020
- i’s Euro 2020 predictions – winners, dark horses, golden boot and more
- Daniel Storey’s guide to all 24 teams – from hot favourites to no hopers
- Home nations guides on England, Scotland and Wales
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
- Why England players are taking a knee at Euro 2020 – in their own words
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3pTcc78
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