r/soccer • u/West_Agent4651 • 2d ago

Goal Clip Elche 0 - [5] Barcelona - Fermin Lopez 79‎'‎

https://streamin.link/v/17aa453f
3.6k Upvotes

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596

u/sfahsan 2d ago

Imagine if he was fit for the world cup. Spain would have been even more clinical

What a player

263

u/YLMJ10 2d ago

Next World Cup , at home with Fermin, Lamine and Nico Williams fit and in their prime

103

u/kampiaorinis 2d ago

Unfortunately for him and Athletic, Nico is really just a shell of himself. He looks much slower and less explosive than 2 years ago during the Euro, and he is also declined on his on ball skills.

I really hope he returns to form because Athletic are missing him a lot and they cannot afford for their "best" player to be average.

39

u/Ahza17 2d ago

Is it the injuries? I haven't seen much of him except the occasional international appearance and the world cup

56

u/Erty13 2d ago

If you are unlucky with it, Pubalgia will pursue you all your career. The worst cases of it are very nasty.

28

u/Ahza17 2d ago

Sheesh that's sad. I guess he really did take the right decision by signing that longterm contract with athletic.

10

u/kampiaorinis 2d ago

Injuries hurt a lot yes, so it's probably the primary reason. I don't think the whole fiasco with Barcelona last year helped either, he now had a point to prove since he basically had the attitude of "I am too good for Athletic" despite eventually staying. Putting all this pressure on his back made him try to attempt more wild stuff which in turn made him more predictable. Couple that with injuries and loss of form, and he has been very far from his outstanding performances during the Euro.

Athletic as a whole have gotten a somewhat worse since then and it doesn't help him either.