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Euro 2016: Gerard Pique Lifts the Clouds over Spain, the Country He Divides
Published: June 14, 2016
The public slanging match? Forgotten.
The whistles? Gone.
The shaming? Shelved. For now, anyway.
These have been 12 strange, senseless and contradictory months that have surrounded Pique on the international stage, and in a way, much of it continued on Monday. With time running out in Spain's Euro 2016 opener against the Czech Republic in Toulouse, a sense of desperation steadily grew around La Roja.
As 70 minutes ticked by, the scoreboard read 0-0 despite their domination. As 80 arrived, it hadn't changed. By 85, ditto.
As tales go, this was a familiar one for Vicente del Bosque's men. But then: Pique.
On 86:19, Andres Iniesta lifted in a perfectly weighted cross from the left. Pique, thrown forward along with centre-back partner Sergio Ramos in a manner that highlighted the stakes, took two quick steps to meet it. His header was a glancing one and came from close range, but in the circumstances, it was colossal.
Beating Petr Cech, finally, Pique had rescued Spain. This was their release or the lifting of a cloud, and immediately the Barcelona defender went straight toward the Spanish support at that end of the ground.
There, jumping on his back, was Ramos—the same Ramos with whom he'd shared little barbs in public throughout last season and with whom he's often had a difficult relationship. Rushing down the stairs of the stadium, fans full of glee charged as close as they could toward him—fans who are part of a wider support base in which many have relentlessly made Pique a target for public fury.
He had done it; of all people, him.
So what now?
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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