Spain can look forward to the interesting bit of the Nations League, after late penalty drama handed a frantic end to a so nearly perfect group stage campaign. Switzerland head the other way, relegated to League B.
Following a slow start to affairs in Tenerife, Yeremy Pino made his mark back in the Canary Islands, powering home on the follow up of Pedri’s saved penalty.
Despite an underwhelming Swiss start, Joël Monteiro split La Roja’s back-line wide open before blasting past Robert Sánchez to make things exciting in the second half.
After three years out of La Roja favour; Bryan GIl was the man to edge Spain back in front. Slotting his first goal for the senior team after an impressive splitting run.
Despite looking like seeing out a narrow advantage — Bryan Zaragoza sloppily gave Andi Zeqiri the chance to save Swiss relegation blushes. The striker slotted home with ease from the spot.
Eager to repay his dues, Zaragoza won the third penalty of the contest in added time – no mistake from Spain second time around. Zaragoza took it upon himself to power past Yvon Mvogo with just moments left to play in the heat.
Taking a wholesale approach to selection, Luis de la Fuente made eleven changes to the side that saw off Denmark — Álex Remiro was handed his first appearance in red, alongside Pau Cubarsí’s opening competitive opportunity.
For a near-dead rubber game, Murat Yakin went with five switches from the tie with Serbia that spelt the end of Nations League dreams.
Key players Denis Zakaria (muscle) and Dan Ndoye (leg) were unavailable for the squad due to injury setbacks.
With a minute dedicated to flooding tragedy, champions La Roja — bonded by the nation’s loss, kicked off under Tenerife’s shining lights.
The late summer Geneva downpour that Luis de la Fuente’s men battled through in September – could not contrast a warm night in the Canaries in many more ways, but La Selección were looking for a similar outcome to that particular testing evening.
A match with little lying on it opened as could have been predicted. League A safety was a pipe dream for Rossocrociati, and the visitors did not exactly look eager to chase it.
The Tenerife audience were presented with a not-so determined La Roja, but a showcase of the champions just off the coast of Africa is nothing to be scoffed at. De la Fuente’s team promise undeniable fireworks, even at second gear.
Swiss mistakes were rumbling, and the eventual impetus of Alvaro Morata with Pedri at his heels — forced a second real moment before the flag came to the visitors’ rescue.
Completing the set-piece collection, Morata flew into Swiss channels and flung over Valladolid man Eray Cömert with a mocking flick, frustrating the defender enough to win a chance from the spot.
Demons of a Las Palmas past might have been too strong for Pedri to see the net ripple from 12 yards. Williams avenged the follow-up for Pino to tuck home in the Canaries — the man who shared Pedri’s Gran Canarian upbringing had better luck back home.
The lead handed blaugrana emerging star: Marc Casadó, the license to chase a goal-scoring dream – but his ambition flew past Mvogo on fourty minutes.
Racing into enemy lines again, Nico Williams had led the threats of a first-half Switzerland could happily forget. About as far from Bilbao as you can get, the winger remains adored in every corner of Spain.
Remiero’s La Roja debut only lasted a half, as he made way for Sánchez ahead of a long trip back to San Sebastian.
Switzerland should have been level minutes into the game’s resumption. Aitor Parades fell at the challenge of Monterio, the Young Boys man chose not to look for Andi Zeqiri at his side and swept past Sanchez’s gaping goal instead.
The spark of Williams remained Spain’s biggest strength – but a chance of his own petered straight at Mvogo from close range. That chance marked the winger’s last action as Bryan Gil ran on in his place.
Eventually, La Seleccion’s weak advantage was pierced. Monteiro made up for his selfishness by weaving through Parades and Alejandro Grimaldo to make it a level match. Spain’s least competitive feeling competitive match in a while had regained some much-needed edge.
Spain’s parade was firmly back on track with a bit of magic from substitute Gil, winning the ball back in the Swiss box – the 23-year-old squeezed round the opposing defence to thump home. Marking the end to his three year absence from the national team in style.
Another Pedri effort flew over with fifteen to play; he might just have to wait for an outing in Gran Canaria for a happy ending back home.
It’s never simple with Spain; that is no secret. With six minutes left to play, Switzerland were gifted a penalty following Bryan Zaragoza’s slice through a counterpart. Zeqiri made no mistake from the opportunity, sending Sánchez the wrong way.
With just moments left to hold onto some pride upon relegation, Rossocrociati gave up a penalty of their own. It was Zaragoza’s turn to tumble before stepping up to slot home the certain winner in front of the onlooking canarios.
Admirably, by the match’s conclusion just two of Spain’s Euro 2024 winners occupied the turf – and yet, they looked every bit of the impression De la Fuente’s champions made in the summer; no stranger to a slice of excitement.
Not many players had enough time to really impress in Santa Cruz, but without his 17-year-old partner in crime, Nico Williams certainly took his chance to adopt centre stage.
Conducting most of what La Roja did right in the final third; Williams was pivotal in almost every key opportunity, before assisting the opener. The Athletic Club man had a handful of opportunities to increase the Spanish advantage but was replaced moments before the dreaded equaliser.