It was fascinating to watch Spain in this tournament. Rampant against Costa Rica, relaxed against Germany – an equaliser? fine, whatever – and then utterly spooked, from the moment Japan roused themselves into something like a comeback. Forgive the analogy, but we can’t really think of another way of putting it: they looked constipated with fear.
It’s possible, of course, that we all got a little carried away after that 7-0. That Costa Rica were unusually vulnerable to Spain in a way that others were not. But as the games got tighter, the callow nature of the squad came into sharper relief. Having the next Xavi and Iniesta is all well and good, but Spain needed an Iker Casillas, a Carles Puyol and a David Villa to win in 2010. Also extra-time, and a good number of 1-0 wins.
Or it’s possible, of course, that we’re getting a little carried away now. Three missed penalties might be an indictment of an entire regime, or they might be well, just three missed penalties. Two days before the shootout, Enrique revealed that his squad had been told to take “1,000 penalties”, in the hope of avoiding a repeat of the shootout defeat to Italy in 2021. Is there something to be said for 2,000, perhaps?
One of the oddities of a defeat on penalties is that the immediate cause of elimination is obvious, and yet so clearly not enough. Three fairly reliable penalty-takers missing three penalties might just be a strange statistical hiccup, but it invites deeper readings. It begs you to look into the souls of these players and find them trembling. It invites you to look back at the game and demand that this position should never have been reached.
It’s like Al Capone getting done for tax evasion. You’re not going to argue with the verdict, but you have to imagine that there are one or two other sins lurking in the background.
The promotion of Luis de la Fuente – who has coached his way up through the national age groups – suggests that Spain will continue with this youthful project. As for Enrique, he will now head off to his family and his Twitch account, ready to be linked with every Champions League club in a poor moment from now until forever. Spain’s loss is the rumour mill’s gain.
Any result is possible here. The draw is food for thought as far as this preview is concerned. With goals being far from abundant this might not be a goal-fest and it’s certainly not one to go mad about. That said, the draw is the play from the match winner market.
These sides have not been at their best in front of goal. Empoli have averaged 0.6 goals in their last 5 starts , while Wolves have only scored twice in their last 6 away games.
The betting markets suggest that neither side will keep a clean sheet during this match as they can both be dangerous in possession. However the odds-against for the No BTTS is actually the standout from that market.
Empoli have drawn 7 of their last 16 matches on their own soil added to the fact that Wolves have drawn 3 of their last 9 away matches. It’s not the most exciting thing you’ll read today and it feels like a match to keep at arm’s length but the draw is food for thought. Deadlock is the pick after what will probably be a low-scoring affair.
