Gonzalo Pèrez de Vargas (Toledo, 31 years old) will possibly be Spain’s last bastion this Friday to stop Denmark, right now the great favorite to win this European Championship. In the World Cup and in the Olympic Games the Danes left the Spanish in the ditch in the semifinals. This Friday they meet in Budapest (18:00, Teledeporte).
-Do you think Denmark lost to France to face Spain in the semifinals?
-We saw the game and anyone can comment on it, but what I think is that if we, Spain, have the option of eliminating a team like France, which is the Olympic champion, we would not have missed it. They have given life to the French and we will see what remains. They repent the same.
-It was the only way to face Spain in the semifinals.
-Yes, in the last commitments they have beaten us but we have always competed. In the World Cup it was by one goal, due to the misfortune of Rubén’s shot, and in the Olympic Games by more margin, but not so clearly as to think that they have won against us. They are favourites, yes, but it’s not bad for us that they think they are. Must play.
-His wings shoot at really impressive speeds.
-At this level, all the teams throw at more than 120 kilometers per hour, although what is really complicated about the Danes is the speed of their set-up, which can shoot before the defense is formed. For a goalkeeper, his defense is fundamental, and for a defense the key is the confidence that he receives from the goal.
-You are now in your fifth consecutive semifinal in the six in Spain, and you have won two hours, a silver and a bronze.
-Guardiola and Cañellas I think have been in all six, and then Gurbindo, Maqueda and Sarmiento, who were in 2012, have only missed one call. It’s a good streak.
-In this European Championship you have been very reliable in difficult situations, and less so in simpler matches.
-Spain has begun a renovation in two very important positions: the center of defense and the center of attack, both renovated. But the same commitment and interest is maintained as always. We gave our best image against Sweden and Germany, and then it cost us more against rivals with lesser names, but in all the games we were faithful to our identity. And we will continue to be.
-Mikkel Hansen has us caught the measure?
-He is a goalscorer, but his great numbers are helped by being the one who takes penalties, and with that he already adds up a lot. In this European another player who is touched by the wand is Gidsel, who has missed two shots. He will have to try to control that effectiveness.
