Donaueschingen (Germany).- Robin Le Normand (27 years old) live one Euro Cup intense. In his first major tournament with the National Team, and with his future in the air (Atletico is close to closing his signing), the French-born centre-back has once again felt the full confidence of De la Fuente to lead the defense of Spain. The technician was the one convinced him to become nationalized and he has transformed his words into actions: the realist is a fixture for him and no one will move him from the eleven for the remainder of the tournament unless injured or sanctioned.
It is in this last aspect, in fact, that the staff’s concerns are focused. Le Normand tends to receive cards too easily and already received one in the second matchday against Italy; If they receive another in the round of 16 this Sunday, they would miss a hypothetical quarter-final against Germany. And that worries. Although there are alternatives on the bench such as Nacho or Vivian, Robin has gained in hierarchy in recent months and is valued for his forcefulness, speed and ability to win duels. His next and penultimate challenge will be one of the most difficult: contain.
Of course, the Brittany-born will fight to finish the competition without regretting any warning that would mean missing an important event. The yellow ones They clean up in the semi-finalsbut until then, in the round of 16 and quarter-finals, any punishment will remove him from the starting eleven. And with the dying side awaiting the national team, it is more convenient than ever that De la Fuente can count on everyone.
The coaches already challenged Robin on the date that closed the group stage against Albania; The idea was to reserve him, like the rest of the starters, but Nacho’s discomfort and Laporte’s overload of minutes forced him to play 45 minutes in Düsseldorf (he replaced the Al-Nassr player at half-time). In the framework of an inconsequential match, The advice transmitted to Real was not to take risks and escape from absurd situations. (grabs, scuffles…) that could lead to a card. And he fulfilled his mission, no matter how much the precedents do not invite optimism when thinking that they will not show him any more yellow cards.
Firstly, because his position always involves greater risk; and secondly, because Le Normand has suffered this season from a excess momentum in several actions that have cost him too many warnings. In fact, he finished the campaign with 17!, 13 of them in LaLiga. Only Iván Alejo, absolute record holder with 17, surpassed him. Expeditious defenders such as Djené (12) or Fali (12) were left behind by the international with La Roja, who again saw another avoidable card in the friendly against Northern Ireland in Palma de Mallorca that closed the preparation for the Euro. That day he entered Son Moix too distracted and was charged with a yellow in the fifth minute for arriving late to a dispute.
Talisman
To the superstitious, losing Le Normand for one of the qualifying rounds will make them tremble. The defender has not suffered not a single defeat since he wore the national team jersey: His 14 appearances have resulted in 12 wins and just two draws.the first in the 2023 Nations League final against Croatia (Spain won on penalties) and the second in the friendly against Brazil in March at the Bernabéu. The only duel in which he missed due to a technical decision (Colombia, also in March), De la Fuente’s team fell.
His importance is accredited with numbers and with the respect of his teammates. Pedri or Lamine have praised him in recent interviews and De la Fuente is clear that he is central to it. At the moment, the gyririgay of the market, with Atlético negotiating his transfer with Real, has not affected its performance. Spain still doesn’t know what it means to stumble when it has Le Normand… and hopes that he will hold back in Cologne to repeat with his talisman in the lineup against Germany or Denmark.
