Spain bounced back to form with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Costa Rica. After a shaky 2-2 draw against France, the national team showed more decisiveness in their final home match. Notably absent once again was Sergio Lozano. The Barça captain has become an enigma for the team. His stellar performance against Hungary in Ferrol excited both the coaching staff and fans, but the harsh reality is that Lozano has only appeared in one of the five scheduled friendlies. Since the preparation began on July 25, every step concerning Lozano has been measured. Although he warmed up against Morocco, he didn’t take the court on August 13 or 14 and only played in A Malata on the 22nd.
The RFEF press department attributed his absence against France and Costa Rica to a wound infection. At 35 years old, with 110 caps and 89 goals, Lozano is expected to lead the national team, but his form is uncertain. His place on the final roster for the World Cup in Uzbekistan will be decided shortly. The team has a three-day break before traveling to Tajikistan on Sunday to continue their World Cup preparations with friendlies against the host nation and the Netherlands, under the guidance of Miguel Andrés.
the squad
It’s important to note that Javi Mínguez (Movistar Inter) joined the squad on August 5, and his performance has impressed the coaching staff. The Madrid-born right winger could potentially replace Lozano. The RFEF must submit the final 14-player list to FIFA by Wednesday, September 4. For the World Cup, where Spain will debut against Kazakhstan on September 15 in Andijan. Spain can still make injury-related changes until Saturday, September 14, so 15 players are expected to travel to Uzbekistan. Currently, there are 16, and decisions need to be made. Initially, it was thought that Dani Gabriel might be excluded, or his replacement, Jesús Gordillo. However, after Gordillo’s recent performances, where the Palma Futsal striker scored in the last two games, another internal debate has emerged about the need for a specialist like him in the World Cup. Many players are advocating for Gordillo’s inclusion, presenting a dilemma for the coach.
In the match against Costa Rica, Spain utilized three distinct and balanced quartets, starting with Chemi in goal, who impressed with his footwork. The starting five included Boyis, Cortés, Mellado, and Raúl Campos, who returned after some discomfort. This was followed by Antonio, Adolfo, Catela, and Raúl Gómez, and then a classic 3-1 formation with Tomaz, Mínguez, César, and Gordillo. The strategy paid off as Raúl Gómez opened the scoring in the 2nd minute after a corner from Cortés. Seven minutes later, a pass from Mínguez to César ended with a lobbed cross from the ElPozo Murcia left-winger, allowing Gordillo to score a flawless header for the 2-0.
After the break
After the break, Catela and Cortés played together, much to the delight of the young fans in the stands at the Ciudad del Fútbol pavilion in Las Rozas. Catela created a play that led to a 3-0 lead, scoring five minutes after the restart with an assist from Raúl Campos. Despite the expulsion of Didac Plana, Spain kept a clean sheet for the first time in five preparation matches and sealed the win with a left-footed strike from Mellado in the final minute.