Spain holds Azpilicueta to the last minute
QATAR WORLD CUP | SPAIN
The full back stays on the sidelines in order not to risk his calf injury, and be able to be at 100% for the round of 16.
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Spain got back to training sessions after enjoying a free day of disconnection, which most of the players spent with their families. They charged batteries and came back already focused in the round of 16 game with Morocco. During the morning session, Cesar Azpilicueta and David Raya did some exercises on the sidelines. Both players were seen in the field, but riding stationary bikes.
As Luis Enrique said, Azpilicueta got a hard blow to the calf, which compromised his soleus. He was replaced out of precaution because the pain forbade him from running normally, and he was already exposed to an overload. For that reason, the Spaniard team is taking special care of the Chelsea captain, and they hope he’ll be in top shape for the game against Morocco.
The rest of the players, including Dani Olmo, who stayed at the gym during the first training session after the defeat to Japan, were at the orders of Luis Enrique. Another practice under a shining sun and with a very calm atmosphere, this a constant state of mind on the team since day one, despite the shocking defeat to the ‘blue samurai’ team, in the last game of the group stage.
The team led by Luis Enrique will go back to work next Monday afternoon for their last practice before they face the Atlas Lions. Before the session begins, the coach and Pedri will attend the press conference to analyze the kill-or-be-killed game with Morocco.
