NhanDinh.vn – The skipper conceded a penalty for the fourth time this season and cost La Roja what would have been a deserved victory in Turin
It had looked like being a memorable night for Spain. Up against the team that had knocked them out of Euro 2016 and ended their era of dominance once and for all In Paris late last June, La Roja were looking to prove a point. But after another mistake from their captain, a point was all they got.
Such was Spain’s stranglehold upon this World Cup qualifier in Turin that at one stage, La Roja had 80 per cent of the possession against the Azzurri. And when Italy won their first corner late in the game, their rivals had already had 13.
But those stats are worthless unless the game is won and for all Spain’s neat play, there was little in the way of clear-cut chances for Julen Lopetegui’s side – and it took an uncharacteristic Gianluigi Buffon blunder for the visitors to take the lead.
Nevertheless, that should have been that. The lead was no more than Spain deserved and if anything, another goal looked likelier than an Azzurri equaliser. But Italy can never be written off and Ramos, seemingly, can never be trusted.
The Spain skipper had already given away three penalties for Real Madrid this term and he conceded another in this match with a clumsy challenge as he clattered into Eder with nine minutes left. Daniele De Rossi coolly converted and in the end, it was the Italians pushing for the winner.
Ramos had been off the pace all everning, struggling to keep up with Spain’s high defensive line and lacking the composure of his centre-back partner Gerard Pique. And unlike in the three Madrid matches in which he has given away spot-kicks this season, there was no goal at the other to atone for his error either.
It was a shame for Spain and for Lopetegui, because up until the 81st-minute penalty, Spain had played some super stuff – and they really should have come away with a first win on Italian soil since 1971.
Lopetegui’s side were much more aggressive than that of Vicente del Bosque at Euro 2016, the Basque boss beefing up the midfield with the inclusion of Koke in place of Cesc Fabregas and the exciting Vitolo always dangerous on the break. Diego Costa was full of running, too – even though he had few opportunities to score at the Juventus Stadium.
A 1-1 draw in Italy will always be a decent result, but given the circumstances of the match, Spain will feel that this is two points dropped. And the blame, this time, lies largely at the feet of one man: Ramos, right now, is not providing a captain’s example for club nor country.