Cadena COPE Applauds De La Fuente's Mistreatment of Asencio: 'The Easy Decision...'

The March international break has definitely ended for several players after Spain's victory against the Netherlands...

Although it happened thanks to a penalty shootout due to the draw at the end of the 120 minutes played at Mestalla. One of the players who could have had minutes during that match is Raúl Asencio.

Raúl Asencio Was There but They "Forgot" About Him...

Raúl Asencio was part of Luis de la Fuente's squad list for the match against the Dutch sports discipline. But he didn't play even a minute. With Robin Le Normand booked, the Spanish coach decided to bring in his new "4" to the team to seek different defensive solutions.

Instead, Dean Huijsen played. The "2" from AFC Bournemouth, in Real Madrid's spotlight for several weeks, is another of the positive surprises of the current season in the European elite. Luis de la Fuente, due to Pau Cubarsí's injury, decided to count on the cherry center-back to be part of the line-up against the players coached by Ronald Koeman.

Bringing in the kid, suddenly counting on the center-back who is not known, who doesn't make headlines, who isn't in the betting... and suddenly he brings him in, puts him in, and he delivers the result he delivers, with confidence, with personality, and being effective in the game, bravo," says Gonzalo Miró without a doubt.

Particular Analysis

For this renowned Atlético de Madrid supporter, Luis de la Fuente acted well by placing Dean Huijsen before Raúl Asencio. But this wasn't the only comment made on Cadena COPE regarding the Spanish coach's tactical decision about Raúl Asencio. Santiago Cañizares points out that Huijsen is "a very good player and that's what's beautiful".

So, when we don't find him entirely well because he has some flaw or such, we'll turn a blind eye to him," concludes the former Real Madrid and Valencia goalkeeper. "It's not a criticism, it's that he's very good and very beautiful, and beautiful players always... fill our vision and we'll always value them."

Santiago Cañizares insists on his praise for Huijsen to the point of stating that future "mistakes" he might make due to his inexperience in the soccer elite will be forgiven. Gonzalo Miró seems to agree in that sense and remembers Raúl Asencio, who hasn't added any minutes in this international break. As a coach's decision, I think it would have been much easier to put Asencio," especially due to his proven defensive solidity in the most competitive scenarios.

Gonzalo Miró reiterates that placing the Spanish "4" was "the easy decision" for Luis de la Fuente. "Taking this one is more complicated because if it hadn't worked out well, he would have been criticized not only for putting this one... but for not putting the other one," notes the commentator and panelist.