A brace apiece for Nolito and Morata
Spain recorded an impressive 6-1 win over South Korea yesterday with the Asian side coming into the match on a 16 game unbeaten run. The score-line was enhanced with two goals apiece for Nolito and Álvaro Morata. The Spanish national team has a level of pedigree and it’s good that they were ruthless yesterday in Salzburg. It’s possible that in Nolito and Morata we’ve finally found replacements for David Villa and Fernando Torres. The Celta and Juve players are two young, elegant strikers who know how to score.
La Roja started off with just one defensive midfielder in Bruno with Sergio Busquets joining him in the second half and who will undoubtedly be the starter. This decision leaves us with a doubt if the coach will decide to play with two central players or just one? As the Euro 2016 tournament gets closer the starting XI is slowly becoming clearer. De Gea (we’ll reflect on this later) Juanfran, Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; X, Sergio Busquets, Iniesta; Silva, Morata and Nolito. The ‘X’ position could be filled by Cesc, Koke or Bruno, unless the veteran Del Bosque decides to play Nolito there. But at present Nolito is on fire!
The Celta Vigo striker is the perfect antidote in the attacking line-up after the gap created by the departure of Villa and Torres with Nolito and Álvaro Morata are the best striking partnership since the NYCFC and Atleti players moved on. I feel we have the forward line adequately covered. I’d say the same for the goalkeeping position and feel the same way about De Gea's introduction to international football. Del Bosque is bringing him along in a slow but defined manner. The coach from Salamanca is careful at maintaining harmony within the squad. After the disastrous World Cup in Brazil the coach has rebuilt calm ahead of the tournament with cautious optimism hanging over his squad.
