Sunday, November 6, 2016 marks 14 years since Gerard Pique made his debut for the Spanish national team. The first step in a brilliant story that has seen the central defender give everything in all categories from U16 upwards.
1. Pique first wore the shirt of Spain with the U16 side in a match against Belgium in Las Palmas (2-0). It was also the first game for coach Gines Melendez. In this category the Barcelona man played seven games and scored two goals, both in Sweden.
2. His debut in official competition was with the U17 in France - February 6, 2004 - when he scored the first in a 4-2 victory over Italy. He was runner-up in the European Championship after losing the final to France but scoring in the 2-1 defeat and played eight games at this level, scoring three goals.
3. His first title with the national team came in the European Under 19 Championships in 2005. A debut in this category came on April 11, 2006 with a defeat against Sweden in Orihuela. In total Pique played eight games for the U19s, scoring three goals of which two were in finals.
4. The World U20 Championships in Canada in 2007 saw the Catalan spend five games on the subs bench, finally debuting on July 1 in a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez scored for the visitors. Spain, who lost in the quarterfinals on penalties to the Czech Republic, eliminated Brazil in the second round rallying from 2-0 down and with a goal from Pique that had a suspicion of handball.
5. A debut with the U21 came in Tirana on September 1, 2006, with a 3-0 victory and two goals scored by David Silva. Coach at the time was Inaki Saez and Pique's goal was to be at the Beijing Olympic Games.
6. After Italy would knock Spain out of the Games, Pique completed 12 games with the U21 side as Spanish captain.
7. On February 11, 2009, Vicente del Bosque would hand Pique his senior debut - a prestigious 2-0 victory over England in the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
8. His first goal for Spain was at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and was decisive. On 28 March, 2009, he won the match against Turkey in their World Cup qualifier.
9. The defeat against Switzerland in Durban in the opening match of the World Cup in 2010 was a blow to Spain and left the image of a bruised Pique - something that became war wounds on his face in the win against Honduras.
10. The greatest day in Spanish football history came on July 11, 2010 and a World Cup triumph in Soccer City. Pique was part of a defence that didn't concede a goal after the first phase.
11. Euro 2012 required extra effort after Pique received a whiplash injury. As in South Africa, he was solid in defence, conceding one goal in the first game.
12. The World Cup in Brazil was an absolute disappointment. After the 5-1 loss against the Netherlands, Pique was left out of the team. He thought about retirement but was persuaded to reconsider.
13. On June 13, 2016, Pique became a national hero with his last-gasp goal against the Czech Republic. This after what seemed to be months of whistles and bawls in his direction.
14.The day that broke Pique. On October 9, 2016 a false controversy over the sleeves of the national team shirt made Pique announce a decision that was taken some time ago - he would be leaving the team after the World Cup in Russia. Curerntly the defender has played 84 games, scored five goals and won two titles.
Comments
Post a Comment