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Isco, Welbeck bask in limelight
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ISCO woke up yesterday morning to newspaper headlines declaring him “the messiah Spain has been waiting for to revive past glories” but the gifted midfielder appears to have his feet firmly on the ground.
The 22-year-old was widely feted after netting a brilliant goal in Saturday’s 3-0 win at home to Belarus in Euro 2016 qualification Group C, following up on an excellent run of form with Real Madrid.
Receiving the ball in a central position five meters outside the opposition penalty area, he steadied himself before curling a superb shot into the top corner.
Such was the quality of the strike it left Belarus goalkeeper Yuri Zhevnov rooted to the spot and he could only watch the ball sail past him into the net.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque punched the air with uncharacteristic enthusiasm but later included Isco in criticism of the team for what he called being “excessively elaborate”.
Isco appears to have taken his coach’s advise on board and told a news conference yesterday previewing tomorrow’s friendly against Germany he was determined to work hard and keep improving.
He is flourishing under the guidance of experienced Real coach Carlo Ancelotti and has made the most of a recent absence through injury of the club’s Wales winger Gareth Bale, who would normally start in Isco’s place.
“I like to enjoy myself and perhaps I erred a bit trying to play attractively but the important thing is to learn from the criticism,” Isco said.
“We have to get used to both praise and criticism,” added the former Malaga player, who won the ‘Golden Boy’ trophy for the best young player in Europe in 2012. “One day you are up, the next down and I have to remain calm, work, help and learn, that is the most important.
“Each game helps me to continue improving which is what I want. I want to improve in defense, on the ball, score more goals, I never want to get tired of improving.”
Tomorrow’s game against Germany in Vigo, the European heavyweights’ first meeting since Spain’s 1-0 win in the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup, will be another chance for Isco to confirm his potential as a future Spain stalwart.
Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck may frustrate at club level but put the Arsenal striker in an England shirt and he has proved himself to be a reliable figure on the international stage.
Welbeck scored two goals in England’s 3-1 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Slovenia at Wembley on Saturday, a win that kept Roy Hodgson’s side top of Group E with 12 points from four games.
England struggled to find its rhythm for large parts against Slovenia and slipped behind when Jordan Henderson headed Milivoje Novakovic’s free kick past Joe Hart. Yet Wayne Rooney, winning his 100th international cap, scored an equalizer from the penalty spot before Welbeck came to life and grabbed two goals in six minutes.
Welbeck’s first goal may have been a little scuffed but there was nothing fortunate about his second as the Arsenal striker combined perfectly with Raheem Sterling before applying a clinical finish past Slovenia goalie Samir Handanovic.
The 23-year-old, who signed for Arsenal from Premier League rival Manchester United in September, has now scored 13 goals in 22 starts under Hodgson and the England manager was delighted with Welbeck’s performance.
“I have always believed in Danny,” Hodgson told reporters. “When I picked him for Euro 2012 many were surprised but I’ve never picked a squad without him — even when he has not been playing regularly (for his club). I am pleased everyone is now recognizing his talent.”
Welbeck has scored two Premier League goals in eight appearances for Arsenal this season and has often been criticized for not scoring enough.
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