Llorente did not play; Azpilicueta, Eric García, Busquets and Sarabia improved a team in which Morata missed a penalty

Luis Enrique shakes up Spain as Croatia awaits in the Round of 16

photo_camera REUTERS/JOSE MANUEL VIDAL - Spain coach Luis Enrique after Aymeric Laporte scores his second goal

In the twelfth minute the hecatomb was already looming on the horizon. Spain eliminated, Luis Enrique fired, where was Ramos, Aspas on the beach... but the history of the national team was redirected in those years of Euro and World Cups. Glory was touched with the hand and now we know the way, if not to repeat, at least to get closer. In the 12th minute Morata missed a penalty in the steppe of La Cartuja. A placed ball, high and to the right of the goalkeeper Dubravka who put his hand -lucky hand- and sent the ball into the blue tarpaulins that are still cheering incessantly.

#Memes

The ghosts sat in the stands watching Spain go down the drain. Until the Slovakian hero arrived to become the villain. Sarabia's long-range shot hit the crossbar, went up, came down and the goalkeeper's punch to clear the ball put it into the goal where Morata was already waiting to celebrate. The goalkeeper missed the timing and, along with Morata, was Twitter meme fodder for having the same goals at Euro 2020. In any case, the champagne was popped and Spain broke free to play some decent football.

Los seguidores de España celebran en las gradas durante el partido del grupo E de la Eurocopa 2020 de fútbol entre España y Eslovaquia en el estadio de La Cartuja en Sevilla, el miércoles 23 de junio de 2021
#Llorente

Luis Enrique knew that if he didn't move the tree, no fruit would fall. He wasn't going to make mistakes and he took Llorente off. Either as a full-back or on the bench. Well, to the bench. Some people prefer to look at the time on a Casio and keep their Rolex in the drawer of their bedside table. Eric García played alongside Laporte in defence. Azpilicueta played where he has been playing since his teeth came out. Busquets, at last, took command of the midfield. And Sarabia balanced Alba's runs to give the team depth on the right. The 4-3-3 was still present but the players were making it more coherent.

El eslovaco Martin Dubravka marca un gol en propia puerta y el primero para España
#Sarabia

The PSG full-back brought about the lack of control Spain needed in attack. He went up, crossed and even shot from outside the box. The 2-0 lead at half-time was reassuring for the 12,000 fans watching the game from a distance in the stands. They were even convinced by the performance that the Slovakian coach would later describe as a "master class". Everything that can be analysed about Spain's play in the run-up to the Round of 16 came to an end at the end of the first half. Slovakia lost faith and Luis Enrique was taking advantage of goals from Sarabia, Laporte, Ferrán Torres and Kucka own goal to give minutes to other internationals. The fans asked for Traoré and they got him. How could they ignore him after the controversy over the apathy of the national team when they left the hotel days before. Thiago and Oyarzabal also had their chance to show that they are ready for whatever happens next.

El centrocampista español Pablo Sarabia (Izquierda) marca el tercer gol de su equipo durante el partido de fútbol del grupo E de la Eurocopa 2020 entre Eslovaquia y España en el estadio de La Cartuja en Sevilla el 23 de junio de 2021
#Copenhague

Poland came very close to leaving Spain top of the group. Madrid could already be seen fencing off the Plaza de Colón and decreeing three days of celebration, but Sweden made it 3-2 in extra time to put La Roja back in second place in the group and calm down the fair of emotions that the bulls' skin has become. Croatia await them on Tuesday at 18:00. And the best thing of all is that it will be the city of Copenhagen, the Parken Stadium, where the match will be played. Some 20,000 spectators on the pitch, a football atmosphere to forget the wake in Seville.

El centrocampista español Sergio Busquets aplaude tras el partido de fútbol del grupo E de la Eurocopa 2020 entre Eslovaquia y España en el estadio de La Cartuja en Sevilla el 23 de junio de 2021
#Modric

In Croatia, Modric is in charge. And he does it by pulling the cart and scoring goals. Kovacic, for whom the Bernabéu held a special place, Vrsaljko, who trained under Simeone, and Lovren, European champion with Liverpool at the Metropolitano, are still there. The last World Cup finalists are not what they were, although Perisic scores goals as easily as he does at Inter Milan. 

El portero de Eslovaquia Martin Dubravka (Izquierda) se lanza ante el delantero de España Mikel Oiarzabal (Centro) durante el partido de fútbol del Grupo E de la Eurocopa 2020 entre Eslovaquia y España en el Estadio de La Cartuja en Sevilla el 23 de junio de 2021

Spain have been rightly criticised for their first two draws. Now it is time to praise their play because the 0-5 scoreline demands it. St Petersburg could await Luis Enrique's side for a quarter-final against France if they beat Switzerland. Then London for the semi-finals against Italy, Portugal or Belgium. The final at Wembley on 11 July will be England, Germany or the Netherlands on the other side of the table. The drubbing of Slovakia could be the beginning, or the end. You never know.

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