Constitution Day 2022 may constitute Spain's firm candidacy for the world crown, after an overwhelming start in Qatar and subsequent qualification for the playoffs after signing a draw against Germany and not being able to score against Japan.
This December 6th seems like the crucial moment of the championship for a National Team subjected to high pressures with what feels like jumping without a net, and knowing that a defeat means packing up to return home.
The Morocco-Spain round of 16 match will begin this Tuesday at 4:00 p.m., Spanish peninsular time with free-to-air television broadcast of La 1 and minute-by-minute monitoring of this official medium
It will be the ninth time in the centenary history of the team that we all face a round of 16 World Cup match. The first one 88 years ago when Spain came out on top against the later five-time champion Brazil, back in the spring of 1934.
We do not have such good memories of the last one, four years ago in Moscow. And among the six remaining, the victory against Portugal in Cape Town stands out. This was the turning point for the Spanish National Team who was defeated in the South African debut and whose victory against the Lusos paved the way for them with confidence towards their first champion star.
Click here to listen to the statements by Luis Enrique and Pedri in the preview of the match.
The point of no return, the round of 16, comes this time against the strong as always, Morocco, one of the only four teams that remain undefeated in this World Cup.
With 19 of their 26 players currently playing in UEFA national championships, including three in the Spanish First Division, Walid Regragui's men are full of morale, wanting to get past the round of 16 for the first time. They will also have the majority support of the stands in the City of Education stadium.
The match, which will be refereed by Argentine referee Fernando Rapallini, is the second consecutive World Cup between the two teams, who tied in the group stage in Russia 2014, while Spain beat Morocco in qualifying for Chile 1962
Faced with these threats, Luis Enrique and his team will remain faithful to their football values, with the 26 internationals at the full disposal of the coach and eager to take on the first of the three challenges that await in eight days with the grand final on December 18 as our goal.
Three high pressure knockout rounds requiring strength and resistance to successfully to get out of a triple blow with permanent risk of detonation, in which we will also be able to face our three great neighbors -Morocco, perhaps Portugal, perhaps France- on a hopeful horizon that today the ball begins to clear, so #VamosEspaña and go for it.