LAPORTE CONFIDENT SPANISH CAN ‘EAT UP’ LEWANDOWSKI
MANCHESTER CITY’S Aymeric Laporte faces the game of his life against Poland’s Robert Lewandowski tonight but he believes he has already won a bigger battle — gaining the respect of Spain supporters.
in his first media appearance since switching allegiances, the former France Under 21 international was recently asked: ‘Normally players play for the country where they were born. Do you feel fully Spanish enough to defend the badge, the nation and the anthem?’
Laporte’s measured, impassioned response, which ended with a promise to give everything to defend the shirt he had chosen to wear, won over most of the doubters.
After an impressive debut against Sweden he went further in an interview with Marca, saying: ‘What upset me (about the question) was that it felt like an attack on me. it’s a complicated and delicate issue.
‘Many are in favour, many others are against but ultimately i’m here because i want to be.
‘Luis Enrique told me there was interest in taking me to the Euros for Spain and i was delighted.’
Laporte’s City team-mate Ferran Torres has already given him the full vote of confidence regarding tonight’s challenge. ‘We are not worried, our centre backs will eat up Lewandowski,’ he said.
‘i hope it goes that way,’ said Laporte. ‘That’s the objective. He’s a top striker and we are going to have to be very focused. But we also have to play our game. if it goes the way it did the other day then it will be very difficult for them.’
Spain set a new tournament record with 419 passes in the first half in their opening group match but were unable to score against Sweden.
‘Not winning a game when you have dominated 75 per cent of possession leaves you feeling that you have let a victory slip away,’ Laporte said. ‘They had more chances than they should have. We can’t allow that to happen.’
Another strong performance from the 27-year-old and Barcelona’s desire to take him to the Nou Camp this summer will only increase. The Catalans have already signed Eric Garcia from City and want a new left-footed centre back.
This week a story surfaced claiming Laporte was unsettled at City and interested in the move. He responded with a tweet that included Pinocchio nose emojis, stating that the author of the news story had not spoken to his representatives.
But when asked what truth there was in his discontent in Manchester and his desire to join Barca he said: ‘i’m not going to deny it. All i did (on Twitter) was deny that the story had come from someone who had spoken to my team.’
The man Laporte will be charged with stopping tonight has a stunning record for Poland in qualifying. But in stark contrast Lewandowski has only scored twice in 12 games in big tournaments, netting against Greece in the group stage at Euro 2012 and in the quarter-finals at Euro 2016 against Portugal.
Poland coach Paulo Sousa will be without the suspended Grzegorz
Krychowiak. He was sent off against Slovakia in a 2-1 defeat that leaves them needing at least a point to maintain a realistic chance of surviving the group stage.
Spain have a fit squad after Sergio Busquets tested negative for coronavirus yesterday. He is back in training although unlikely to start.
As well as missing Busquets the player they have missed his capacity to organise the sweepstake. Spanish radio station COPE report that travel manager Antonio Limones has taken over the organisation of the €100-a-head prediction league in which coach Enrique is 33rd of 42 participants.
Enrique confirmed that Alvaro Morata, who was whistled by Spain fans in the first game after missing several chances, will start tonight.
‘He has played 41 games and has scored 19 goals,’ he said. ‘in the history of the Spain team only David Villa scored more goals in his first 40 games. And of the players at this tournament only Harry Kane scored more in his first 40 internationals.’