It was a bit late and a bit lucky, but the European champions finally scored the goal that completed their homecoming. Kasper Schmeichel had resisted for 79 minutes, but then, almost out of nowhere, Martín Zubimendi, the man Liverpool failed to convince and whose coach calls the second best midfielder in the world after the man he replaced, fired a volley that went through The goal shot off the hands of the Danish goalkeeper and into the net. Just when it looked like they wouldn’t score a goal for the Henri Delaunay Trophy, 29,870 people descended on Murcia and the party ended quite well after all.

It took 24 shots, including a deflection, but Spain had beaten Denmark, topped their group and celebrated the occasion with a victory that looked like it might elude them. Schmeichel had made five saves by then, two of them one-on-one with Álvaro Morata, but ultimately bore some of the responsibility for the defeat on a night when Denmark had its moments. And yet, while there was a time here when it looked like the game was drifting into a draw, which they probably would have been happy with, the Selection got the victory they deserved.

The victory they had also hoped for. This was a tribute to the champions, their first game on Spanish soil since winning Euro 2024 in Berlin, even if not everyone made it back. Only four of the starting eleven in Berlin started here: Aymeric Laporte, Fabián Ruiz, Lamine Yamal and Morata. Unai Simón, Dani Carvajal, Rodri, Robin Le Normand and Dani Olmo as well as Ferran Torres were all left out of the squad due to injury; Nico Williams and Le Normand then withdrew, and they weren’t alone, Bryan Gil and Yéremi Pino also dropped out.

Rodri and Carvajal, the leaders of that team, were the worst: both men had suffered severe knee ligament tears, and with an ever-lengthening schedule, injuries have become an obsession in Spain this season, a fear that still lingers. This also dominated the preparation for this game and perhaps even jeopardized the sense of the occasion. For some it seemed really important that the players got through this unscathed. Not for Spain’s players and not for those who lined the streets and stands here. Certainly not for Zubimendi, who had to replace Rodri.

“Rodri is the best in the world in his position, irreplaceable, but Martín is the second best,” Luis de la Fuente had said. “He radiates security from every pore; He doesn’t get nervous when tightrope walking without a safety net.” He was rewarded with the winner.

Of the group of captains, these injuries remained only for Morata, who revealed this week that he had suffered from depression and anxiety attacks and required medication and psychiatric treatment; Three months before the tournament, he thought he wouldn’t make it to Germany at all. Instead, he lifted the trophy after years of being misunderstood and the butt of easy jokes. Here he was given the opportunity to pick it up again and was greeted with the warmth that had previously been denied him. However, he had to beat Schmeichel to score the goal.

Denmark had not come to pay homage to him. As group winners with two wins from two games, they wanted to do their part. In front of 1,500 traveling fans, they also had their first opportunity when David Raya parried against Kasper Dolberg at the near post. Spain were initially ahead, although they dominated possession but had few real chances. A shot from Álex Grimaldo was easy for Schmeichel, Zubimendi fired a volley just wide of the goal and when the best opportunity presented itself, Morata pushed the shot just wide of the far post. The curler was then saved by Lamine Yamal before he and Pedri had their attempts saved on the edge of the penalty area.

However, the intensity waned and Denmark began to find a way through, especially on the right. Raya had to be quick as a sharp combination between Christian Eriksen and Albert Grønbæk opened up Spain. During another exchange of blows between Eriksen and Dolberg, the latter slipped after a cross that almost went into the goal. And Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s shot was deflected by Laporte and almost went under the crossbar. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

When Morata’s shot flew well over the goal, it elicited generous, even polite applause where once it might have elicited a groan. Lamine Yamal shot through cleanly, hit over the goal and at the start of the second half Ruiz hit the side netting. Spain dominated, but lacked a bit of impact. Until Ruiz brought Morata into the goal with a beautiful pass. However, Schmeichel then got in the way and did so again as the captain soon got another chance, this time played by Laporte.

Denmark seemed content with this; Spain hadn’t done it yet, the tempo quickened again, Lamine Yamal’s quick feet created a gap on the edge of the penalty area, which Schmeichel was just saving as the first Mexican wave began its journey across the ground. Time flew by but they still wanted to enjoy it and when Zubimendi scored they were able to really let go.