Spain has become a question mark in the last concentration of the season, with the holidays knocking at the door. This is not the most brilliant break for Luis Enrique’s team, which does seem anything but concerned about the poor play of his team just over five months before the start of the World Cup. The fatigue accumulated throughout the season by the footballers and rivals who do not finish motivating are not helping.
But beyond a recognizable but not very brilliant game and some results that have put their qualification for the final four of the Nations League in check, in the duels against Portugal, the Czech Republic and Switzerland there have also been more than positive aspects on which build with the future in mind. And if there is one that has brought together the unanimity of the whole world, it has been the leadership of the beardless Gavi, who at 17 years of age has established himself as a fundamental and indisputable piece in the Spanish team, even more than in Barça.
But that cloud in which the young footballer seemed to nest was torpedoed this Saturday by Luis Enrique himself, who did not hesitate to give him a wake-up call for reasons that have not yet transpired. “The only reality, and I say it honestly, is that Gavi has a lot to improve both on and off the pitch”, the Spanish coach surprised in the preview of the duel against the Czech Republic in Malaga. A few words that caught everyone off guard since the Spaniard had not hidden when praising his player whenever he had had the opportunity.
It should be remembered that the young Los Palacios midfielder started strongly in the duel that opened this national team window against Portugal at Villamarín and emerged as the best footballer on the pitch. A performance that deserved unanimous recognition, including that of his coach. “With the ball he is a very special player. He has a goal, he has a header and overwhelming physical power. A unique player”, confirmed Luis Enrique after the draw against the Portuguese.
Gavi took another step forward in his growth in Prague, signing the equalizer just before the break that slipped him through the front door in the history books of Spain, surpassing Ansu Fati as the youngest scorer in history. Spain had not finished carburizing on the field of play but Gavi was confirmed as one of its pillars for the present and future. Together with Unai Simón and Sarabia, the one from Los Palacios has been the only starter in the three games played by Spain this June but after the colleja he received from Luis Enrique, it will be necessary to see if he remains in the eleven tonight against the Czechs .
We must not forget that Gavi has another open front such as his renewal with Barça, which seems increasingly close to getting off the ground. “We are close to reaching an agreement”, admitted yesterday Joan Laporta, Barça president, in a supporters’ club act.
