Unai Simón has a proven track record when it comes to penalties and the national team. He was decisive in the 2023 UEFA Nations League final in the shootout against Croatia and last Saturday, also against the Balkan side, he was able to maintain the national team's lead. As such, it is no surprise that he is looking forward to this European Championships. After the 3-0 win in the opening match, it is now time for this Thursday massive clash against Italy. And if there is a penalty against them, Unai Simón, the specialist, will be ready.
"The only thing I try to do is, before the start of each match, to have a clear idea which side for each player, to know where I'm going to go. Be it studying them or not studying them... in the end there’s still a chance to save it, but you have to go with confidence. If the striker puts it my way, he has less chance of scoring. If he mixes it up or if he's seen me go early, I take my hat off and say congratulations, but if he shoots my side, don't let him put it in," says the goalkeeper.
Spain-Italy is the most played match in the continent tournament’s recent history and Simón also says that he has never faced an opponent so many times before. "We'll be up against a very solid team, as they've always been. It's the team I've faced the most times, I think this will be the fourth time. They are always complicated matches, matches that are settled by the finest of details, draws, by the odd goal... We are going to have to put everything in on our side. For football, it's going to be a beautiful game.
From his experience as a regular in Luis de la Fuente's squads, the goalkeeper talks about the spectacular growth of Lamine Yamal. He is full of praise, but also asks him to continue working with the same humility. "He is a gifted footballer. He's aware that he's well ahead for his age, he's very decisive when he gets the ball. It's very important to stay calm, to be humble, to know that at 16 years old it's not normal to do this kind of thing and I think he's aware of that. Even if he doesn't get the first few moves right, he keeps trying. Even if the goalkeeper puts out a spectacular hand, he still fights. And I think that's what we need, we need wingers who, if things don't work out, keep trying. If things go their way, it's going to be a chance to score.
From his position at the base of the team, he has a privileged view of what is going on in attack, but he feels equally protected by some top-notch defenders too. Nearby on the pitch, on the right flank, he has Dani Carvajal, who is in an excellent period of form. "Dani has shown that winning six Champions League titles and all the titles he has won is not by chance or a fluke. It's the result of hard work, motivation, the sacrifice he makes for this sport... The rewards he has received are extremely high. The fact that he had the chance to score that last penalty in the Nations League when he was a substitute and when he gave us a talk before he left about how he wanted so badly to play in that final... He deserves it, everything that has happened to him deserves it. He's worked hard for it”.