Spanish Matador Spirit Flares Up at Mestalla

VALENCIA, MONDAY - It is not without reason that Spain managed to secure a pair of prestigious European competition titles. The championship mentality of the team coached by Luis de la Fuente remains unmatched. The Netherlands tried their best to break their dominance but returned home with nothing but disappointment.

A prolonged drama unfolded at Spain's home ground, Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, during the second leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Nations League quarterfinals on Monday (24/3/2025) early morning WIB. The host managed to take the lead three times over the course of 120 minutes, but each time, the Netherlands successfully equalized.

The score ended 3-3, with an aggregate of 5-5, after regular time and extra time. The match had to be decided through a penalty shootout. Spain secured their place in the semifinals after winning 5-4 in the penalty shootout. Barcelona midfielder Pedri, as the sixth penalty taker, concluded the Netherlands' resistance.

"A complicated match. They are a good team. I think we managed to find a way out well. Just wearing the (national team) jersey is already beautiful, let alone being able to score a (winning) goal. Of course, this victory would not have been possible without Unai (Simon)," said Pedri.

Simon, the goalkeeper and captain of Spain, initially failed to block two penalty kicks during regular time and extra time. This resulted in the Netherlands scoring an equalizing goal. Simon redeemed himself during the penalty shootout. He successfully saved the opposing team's final penalty, taken by Donyell Malen.

Interestingly, the last time they faced a penalty shootout in June 2023, the "Matador" team successfully won the previous edition of the UEFA Nations League. Simon was also the hero of the moment with two penalty saves in the final match against Croatia. Simon repeated that heroic moment.

Although it is not a tournament on the level of the European Championship, Simon remains serious in preparing for penalty shootouts. "We have studied the opposing team. We know (Virgil) van Dijk will shoot high on that side. That’s what made me angry when I failed to stop it," said the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper.

Spain's victory showed the mental toughness as the defending champions of the European Nations League and the European Cup. They never "shake" after being drawn repeatedly in front of their own fans. The most severe test was felt from two moments of 17-year-old striker Lamine Yamal.

Yamal had given Spain a 3-2 lead through an individual action in extra time. The goal successfully “rocked” the stadium. Victory seemed to belong to the hosts. The Netherlands' mainstay players, Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo, had been withdrawn due to exhaustion.

Until suddenly, visiting substitute Xavi Simons was brought down in the penalty box a few minutes after the break in extra time. Simons converted the penalty. The score was tied again at 3-3. "We gave our best to win, but failed," said Simons.

During the penalty shootout, Yamal as the fourth kicker should have been able to put Spain ahead. The previous Dutch kicker, Noa Lang, failed to carry out his task. However, Yamal also failed. Amazingly, the interference did not affect the next Spanish shooter.

“It was an incredible feeling. Incredible suffering. (I) enjoyed the game that felt like a final. (The difference) was that we were at a level that we already knew. We felt the same as when we won (Euro 2024),” Fuente said.

On the other hand, the result again shows the bad luck of the “Orange” team when it comes to penalty shootouts. According to Transfermarkt data, the Netherlands has only won two of the last nine penalty shootouts. The last victory was achieved in the quarter-finals of the 2014 Brazil World Cup, against Costa Rica.

The main focus of the match was on the attacking line. They showed off their teeth when attacking. The defense of both teams looked fragile because several key players were absent. Spain was without defender Pau Cubarsi, while the Netherlands was without full-backs Denzel Dumfries and Jurrien Timber.

Goals were inevitable. Spain took the lead in the 8th minute through a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty. The Netherlands responded after the break with a Depay penalty. Spain turned the game around through Oyarzabal again from a counter-attack. The visitors equalized 11 minutes before normal time through Ian Maatsen's strike.

Dutch Head Coach Ronald Koeman concluded that both teams deserved to advance to the next round. "However, only one can qualify. It is decided by a bit of luck (on penalties). There can only be one winner and this time it is Spain's turn," Koeman explained.

The fierce battle had been going on since the first match at Feyenoord Stadium, Rotterdam. Spain also took an early lead at that time, before the score was reversed by two Dutch goals. Fuente's team avoided defeat in injury time in the second half, after a Dutch player received a red card.

In the semifinals, Spain will face France. The match is a repeat of last year's European Cup semifinals. France also managed to qualify through a penalty shootout victory over Croatia. Kylian Mbappe and his teammates won 2-0 in the second match to force the aggregate to a 2-2 draw. (AP/REUTERS)