Egypt 2-1 Spain
Spain have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics, but will do so in second place, after falling to a surprise defeat to Egypt. Manager Santi Denia made a number of changes for their final group game knowing they were already qualified, but they did not pay off.
La Roja started off the better, and put together some flowing moves that faltered in the final third, most notably with Marc Pubill striker the post. Yet shortly past the 20th minute, Egypt produced the first of many impressive saves from Alejandro Iturbe. That was a warning of what was to come.
Lazio are working on a proposal for Vitor Roque that would convince Barcelona. Via @sport
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Just before half time, Ibrahim Adel was fed the ball outside the box and whipped the ball into the top corner, giving the African side the lead. The second half saw Egypt continue to tackle hard and hit on the counter, and when Jon Pacheco scuffed a backpass, Adel pounced and slotted home again just past the hour-mark, leaving Spain flailing.
Fermin Lopez and Pablo Barrios were sent on to fire up the response, and did drag Spain into better positions, but Sergio Camello could not convert a free header at the back post. As the 90 minutes approached, Egypt forced three quality saves out of Iturbe on the break, as they looked into space. Just when it seemed over though, Camello did provide a brilliant cross for Samu Omorodion to nod into the corner, and the board went up for 10 minutes of stoppage time.
🚨👀 João Félix and Diego Simeone next to each other in training today. pic.twitter.com/sVAqC7XpFZ
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That was as good as it got for Spain though, who could only muster a Juan Miranda shot on goal in that stoppage time. Spain will likely face Japan in the quarter-finals, but more than that, it will worry Denia that even with a much-changed side, they struggled mightily against their first opposition of real quality.
