Made in Barcelona: Spain ease past Uruguay in Doha

The Spanish Football Association pocketed a neat fee of $4million for staging the game in Qatar, having changed their initial plans to face Portugal in Lisbon and deciding to use the proceeds from travelling to the Middle East to offer financial support to the Spanish Footballers’ Association.

FIFA were also prepared to bend their own rules to sanction the game, which technically shouldn’t have taken place for two reasons: firstly, the two teams will be meeting in a competitive fixture in the Confederations Cup in June and, secondly, an Asian Cup qualifier between Qatar and Malaysia took place in the same country on the same day.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque claimed to be satisfied to use the game as some extremely early preparation for the 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar, while Barcelona were no doubt happy enough to send a strong contingent of players to the homeland of their main sponsors, the Qatar Foundation.

The game attracted a sell-out crowd of nearly 40,000 to the Khalifa International Stadium and the enthusiastic mix of local fans and expats clearly enjoyed the meeting between the reigning European and South American champions, with superstars such as Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez and Sergio Ramos playing a full part.

The game saw Spain record victory thanks to goals from Barcelona pair Cesc Fabregas and Pedro (two) on the night that Del Bosque equalled Ladislao Kubala’s record of 68 games in charge of La Roja and captain Carles Puyol won his 100th cap.

Uruguay’s goal was also made in Spain when Atletico Madrid winger Cristian Rodriguez slotted home in the first half, and the reigning South American champions can be satisfied enough with their performance against a team they will meet again in the Confederations Cup in June.

The opener came courtesy of a horrendous mistake from Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera, who misjudged a speculative long-range strike from Fabregas, allowing it to squirm embarrassingly through his grasp and over the line.

Uruguay gradually came into the game with their strike force of Suarez and Edison Cavani looking dangerous, and they duly grabbed a classy equaliser when Rodriguez received an incisive pass from Juventus full back Martin Caceres, turned away from Puyol and rolled a precise low shot past Victor Valdes.

Spain retook the lead early in the second half when Pedro continued his fine international scoring form by registering his eighth goal for Spain this season. Two Barcelona teammates were involved, with Sergio Busquets winning possession and Gerard Pique sliding through a well-weighted pass for Pedro to finish with his right foot.

The game’s rhythm was then disrupted by a spate of substitutions but Spain added a third when Fabregas curled a beautiful cross to the far post, where Pedro stabbed home from close range.

 

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