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Fermín López celebrando su gol ante Japón

SPAIN BEAT JAPAN AND GET INTO THE SEMI-FINALS

Overbooking of 'cracks' at Barça! Fermín López's two great goals to lead Spain

Published:2/08/2024 - 19:15h

Updated:2/08/2024 - 19:53h

Spain made it to the semifinals of the Olympic Games by beating Japan 0-3. Fermín López was the great protagonist of the day by scoring two great goals that gave La Rojita the victory

Calendar of FC Barcelona

The Spanish team faced the Japanese team in the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. La Rojita arrived with more doubts than certainties to the eliminatory match after winning against Egypt on the last day of the group stage. A result that was one of the 'bells' of the tournament and that 'condemned' them to second place. However, in a display of character and quality, the Hispanics prevailed, led by an enormous Fermín López, and earned their place in the semifinals with a 0-3 victory.

The team led by Santi Denia came out with everything from the start, and they would quickly get their reward. Fermín López received the ball in three quarters of the field, and after good directed control, he prepared to fire a 'howitzer' from outside the area that was impossible for the rival goalkeeper to stop. The FC Barcelona midfielder adjusted his shot to the post to surprise the opponents and open the scoring.

La Rojita went from strength to strength in the match and the Japanese came close to tying on a couple of occasions. The first of them came in the 40th minute, when Hosoya scored the equalizer, but it was annulled by the VAR because the player was slightly ahead. Later, on the stroke of half-time, Ohata sent a header to the post of Arnau Tenas' goal.

Fermín sealed everything in the second half

In the second half, Spain once again regained control of the game thanks to Fermín López. The Andalusian midfielder led the team in the search for a second goal to 'calm the waters' and in the 73rd minute he would achieve it. In a play prepared from the corner, the player received the ball in the crescent and volleyed it to sign his double, with which he has three goals in the Olympics. Finally, Abel Ruíz put the 'nail in the coffin' to seal La Rojita's pass to the semi-finals of the tournament with a very Blaugrana victory.

Headache for Flick?

The victory of the Spanish team could represent a 'headache' for Hansi Flick, who will have to manage to accommodate so many 'cracks' in the midfield. Fermín's performance against the Japanese was consecrating, a recital of resources that made it clear that the player is prepared for the big stages and that he can contribute great things to the Catalan team.

However, it will not be easy to find a place in the German's eleven. Footballers like Pedri and Gündogan, in addition to the possible arrival of Dani Olmo and the recovery of Frenkie de Jong and Gavi from their respective injuries, would put a Fermín at a 'disadvantage' who, despite the presence of all these 'stars', could 'break down the door' with its quality, punch and hierarchy. The Andalusian has all the conditions to be important, and he was demonstrated in a complicated scenario like the one La Rojita faced against the Japanese.

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