by PETE JENSON: Spain may not have beaten Germany, but they passed Bayern Munich’s test in Germany’s 1-1 draw… Luis Enrique showed Xavi how to draw the the best of Barcelona stars – old and new – and their board will be watching with interest
Spain didn’t get the win they needed to secure qualification but it was Luis Enrique’s side who passed their test from Bayern Munich and that will only strengthen the belief that they can go all the way to Qatar.
Spanish sides have suffered at the hands of German sides in Europe this season, with all four losing to one in the Champions League. But no team has suffered as much as Barcelona at the hands of Bayern and this Luis Enrique side is built on five Barca players.
Veterans Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, and children Gavi, Pedri and Ferran Torres plus substitute full-back Alejandro Balde have all suffered this season at the hands of Bayern who beat Barcelona in the Champions League 5-0 on aggregate from two sleeves. Last season was even worse with Barca twice beaten 3-0 in the group stage. And the torment dates back to 2020 – Busquets and Alba will still have nightmares about the 8-2 defeat.
Luis Enrique’s side may not have claimed victory, but Spain have passed their Bayern Munich test
There were six Bayern players in the German line-up last night, but Spain were unfazed. In Europe, the likes of Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich make Pedri, Gavi and Busquets look like two kids playing with their dad in midfield. Swap Barca shirts for Spain and it’s the Spanish midfielders who look like giants.
The difference between the way these three players play for Spain and the way they play for Barcelona has been noted by the Barca board who will monitor Luis Enrique’s situation at the end of the tournament. He has no new contract and could leave after the World Cup.
Barca want to stay with Xavi but he has admitted that if they don’t win anything this season someone else will come and former Barca boss Luis Enrique has shown himself capable of making the most of not only from Gavi, Pedri and Busquets but also from Jordi. Alba and Ferran Torres.
Alba has been written off at Barcelona. He’s the dear veteran they tried to push out. He became the third choice behind Balde and Marcos Alonso, but remains one of the best attacking full-backs in Europe, as his assist for Alvaro Morata’s goals showed.
Jordi Alba was written off at Barcelona but impressed for Spain and scored his goal
Barcelona tried to force Alba’s sale to Inter Milan at the end of the season but he resisted and having not played too much this season he looks fresh as he scored one of the four goals that beat Italy in the Euro 2012 final.
Torres is another achievement for Luis Enrique. He admitted he would have to take it off immediately if he celebrated the dummy’s goal in the mouth – he is currently the boyfriend of Spanish coach Sira’s daughter – but last night he took it off late in the day. the second half of the German defense. tired, only after seeing him once again play better for Spain than his club.
Spain is not Barcelona, Luis Enrique at the moment is not Xavi. It was remarkable last night that Germany seemed quite happy with the draw. Once they had equalized, there was no desperate charge in numbers to secure the winner.
This is because they believe Spain will beat Japan. This is because they feared a late winner from Spain. It’s because they respect Spain, in a way at club level, their biggest club Bayern have long since stopped respecting Barcelona. It’s a victory for the Spaniards, and especially for their coach Luis Enrique.
Pedri has been impressive for Spain in their first two World Cup group matches
Despite being only 18, Gavi has been one of Spain’s most important players so far
