"I spoke to Dani about the exact move" - Joselu opens up on how he planned Spain winner vs Germany at EURO 2024 five minutes before goal
Spain forward Joselu has said that he spoke to teammate Dani Carvajal about the exact move that their side made to score the winner against Germany in the EURO 2024 quarterfinal. The forward and the full-back played together at Real Madrid in the 2023-24 season before the former's move to Qatari side Al-Gharafa.
La Roja midfielder Dani Olmo opened the scoring in the 51st minute, but German wonderkid Florian Wirtz scored an 89th-minute equalizer to force the tie into extra-time.
The game swayed one way and another before Olmo swung the ball into the box for substitute Mikel Merino to nod in a 119th-minute winner.
Joselu, who was brought onto the pitch in the 102nd minute, claimed that he had discussed the move with his compatriot just minutes before Spain's goal. In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, he said:
"I promise you, just five minutes before the goal, I spoke to Dani [Carvajal] about that exact move. When [Dani] Olmo plays as a left-winger, we all know he likes to cut inside to his right foot and look for a ball into the box. I told him that I would always go to try and pin the further centre-back — to make him mark me individually. That way, there would be a free space just at his back for someone to attack."
“Then, it was all down to Olmo and his magnificent cross. It went just over (now former Madrid team-mate Antonio) Rudiger and I was being marked by (Waldemar) Anton, the other centre-back. This created the space for Mikel to crash into the box, as he does, and to head it home."
"He's built a family here" - Joselu talks about Spain manager Luis de la Fuente's man management
Real Madrid forward Joselu spoke highly of Spain coach Luis de la Fuente's man management skills. He claimed that the 63-year-old had built a 'family' within the national side.
De la Fuente was hired after Spain's embarrassing penalty shootout exit (3-0) against Morocco in the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He turned La Roja's fortunes around, helping them to the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League title with a penalty shootout win (5-4) in the final against Croatia.
In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Joselu commended the coach for the impressive squad he has built over the past few years. He said:
"I think he’s built a family here, which is basically what has brought us to this point. We’ve won the UEFA Nations League on the way, showed some outstanding performances, and the human group assembled here has been the difference-maker."
Spain will take on France in the first semi-final of Euro 2024 on Tuesday, July 9