Keeper of the Spanish football team Unai Simon he said on Monday that he “was sure” where the penalty kick would be taken by the Croatian attack. Bruno Fridaysć on Saturday during the game European Championship in which it is Spain won Croatia 3-0.
– I prepared for penalties as always. I look at the opponents, I try to understand where they will shoot, so before every game I try to have an opinion about the opponents’ penalty kicks. The other day, it turned out that Petkovi was shooting a penalty kick. I was sure he was going to shoot in my right side – said 27-year-old Simon at the press conference.
– My goal is to defend the shot when they shoot in the side I choose, there is not much mystery there – added the 190 centimeter tall goalkeeper.
In the 80th minute, Simon saved Petković’s shot to make it 3-0. He saved a shot from the penalty spot a year ago in the final League of Nations. Fridaysć then, during the penalty shootout, he also shot to the right. On Saturday, Simon was trying to pass the ball to his teammate in defense, but he intercepted it Lovro Major. The ball reached Petkovi, who made minimal contact with the midfielder Rodrím fell and won the harshest punishment.
– If I passed the ball well to Le Normand, we wouldn’t be talking about it now – said Simon, for whom it was his 41st appearance for Spain.
– That was a pass similar to the other 20 I made during the game. Majer stole the ball from me, but it is not necessary to give importance to that. It is true that it is necessary to reduce the risk, to be practical, but it is also necessary to see what kind of team we are. We like to have the ball at our feet, to go forward with it from the defense, and football consists of such moves – he added.
Simon said he was Spain then moreć had a guaranteed victory, so that moment was not decisive.
– The goalkeeper, however, must exude confidence – emphasized the goalkeeper Athletic Bilbao, who this season won the Zamora Trophy for the fewest goals conceded in the Spanish league.
– This year I am the most mature so far, I am showing my best version so far – he said. He added that they are a couple of hitchhikers Nacho Fernandez – Robin Le Normande “played excellently” against Croatia.
– Apart from the result, we played a very good first half. We reacted well when they pressed us, we successfully found free play. When they were standing in their field in a low block, we found a way behind their backs. The second and third goals show that – said Simon.
Simon added that Spain is facing a tough match on Thursday Italy.
– We have played with her four times since I have been here and the result has always been tight, so I believe it will be the same now. These are physically very demanding and intense matches, with a lot of running. It will be a complicated match for both them and us – he said.
– Italy will do its best considering the rivalry between us. It will therefore be a challenge for us to confirm passage to the round of 16 – he said.
He said that the victory against Croatia did not bring euphoria to the team because Spain was already over Worldwide priority started with a 7-0 win over Costa Ricaso she was eliminated in the round of 16 from Morocco.
– & Zcaron; we want to win against Italy, so against Albania and in all other matches. That’s how we think. It’s good that we beat Croatia, but we also want to learn from the mistakes made in that match – concluded Simon.