The beautiful Hvar, in Croatia
1.- Diving
The game starts and the midfielders become the lords and masters of the ball everywhere, even under the sea, among beautiful reefs and colorful fish. The Spanish team presents an axis of the field dominated by the coasts, where the complex Iberian orography offers hiding places and seabeds for all levels. From Girona to Almería, these places attract lovers of this sport with their siren songs.
Starting with the Costa Brava , the route that can be done from Cadaqués to Rosas, surrounding the cape of the same name, is highly prized for the recesses of its rocks and its seabed, where the almost transparent water allows you to enjoy an explosion of color. Normally, these paradises under the waves are protected by the natural parks on their coasts, which makes it clear that the enjoyment of this activity requires respect for nature.
The capes of Nao in Alicante, Palos in Murcia and Cabo de Gata in Almería meet this requirement, so the solidity of the Spanish midfield is assured, safely under the waters of the Mediterranean. Croatia counteract this variety with authentic turquoise paradises, almost science-fiction underwater landscapes guarded by the Adriatic. As with the Spanish, the checkered midfield has a very rich variety of spaces and places. Since Istria until Dalmatia There are Snorkel shops and schools at a fairly affordable price (about €15 an hour). The economic argument is not the only strong point of these places.
The crystalline clarity of the Adriatic Sea makes Hvar, Split waves kvarner islands give wonderful seabeds with a special advantage, that its waters maintain a pleasant temperature (between 15 and 18 degrees) in the first 40 meters of depth.
The organizers of the Adriatic game are, to say the least, chilly. The Spanish midfielder has four island players: Minorca, The Cabrera, The iron Y the graceful . This island poker stands out each one for an attribute. Menorca for its accessibility and for its variety of levels, La Cabrera for its isolation from the tourist maelstrom, which has allowed it to keep a virgin background. In the case of Canarian cracks, their main attraction is their volcanic origin. La Graciosa can also boast of being the largest underwater reserve in Europe. This translates into responsible fishing that allows a wide variety of fish to be seen on a dive. For its part, El Hierro stands out for its constant geological change. The impossible shapes that eruptions form make diving a visit to an abstract art museum.
La Cala Macarella, one of the most beautiful beaches in Menorca
For its part, Croatia brings out a game creation with a wow factor: underwater archaeology. The immersions in the following points are accompanied by a live class of contemporary history. For example, in the vicinity of the kaprije island you can enjoy the views of the Francesca di Rimini , an Italian World War II warship. Continuing with the war memories of this conflict, on the coast of Pelsejac At the bottom of it is the S 57, a German ship. This trident is completed by Peltastis , a Greek freighter submerged just 30 meters deep near Kvarner . This Croatian peculiarity scares Spain, who counter the attack with more variety. Goal, by little, for Spain, who start the game with the wind in their favor.
2.- Sausage
The clash continues on the defensive side. It is the turn for the most typical sausages of both countries to play the second goal of the match. Little can be added about Spain in this regard, who does not know the products of the Iberian pig, of which we eat up to our feet? Who has not been convinced by a good Black pudding from Burgos or León Accompanied by bread, who has not devoured a good Catalan fuet to the end as if it were a liquorice?
La Roja's defense is not intimidated and presents its gladiators, internationally known and exported throughout the galaxy, as long as customs continue to turn a blind eye to the double bottom of Spanish suitcases , which usually has good slices of ham vacuum-packed. But beware, not everything is won for The Red.
The Croatian defense is reluctant to give opportunities to the Hispanic steamroller with a pair of central defenders who could perfectly win the golden ball: the Samobor salami and the Dalmatian sweet ham . The first is the pride of the center of the country, a sausage that resembles Italian salami but has a stronger and more intense flavor. The second is the cover par excellence of the Konoba , the typical Croatian taverns. This dish is surprising not only for its appearance (it is a black-colored ham), but also for its sweet taste, which especially surprises the palate accustomed to its Spanish version.
A good attempt by Croatia to try to equalize the duel, but La Roja's defense is more settled and has been delivering great gastronomic experiences of all kinds for a longer time. Spain scored the second goal of the night, we won 2-0.
The lakes of Covadonga, in the Picos de Europa National Park
3.- Lakes
The goals of the meeting are guarded by the lakes, beautiful goalkeepers who stand out for their regularity at any time of the year. The sticks of Spain are defended by glacial lakes, few in our geography, but not for that reason undeniably attractive. This is the case of those found in mountains like those of Covadonga, Penalara either Estany , all of them surrounded by an overwhelming landscape with snow-capped peaks around them and exultant fauna and flora. But without a doubt, the starting goalkeeper of La Roja is the Sanabria Lake , the largest of all and the most surprising, for being far from the highest mountain systems. For a year now you can visit and get to know better on a school catamaran called Helios Cousteau.
Under the Croatian crossbar there are also beautiful lakes that rival the Spanish in beauty and importance, such as the Lake Modro and the Blue Lake , both of karstic origin and whose attraction lies in being in some wells that, without warning, break with the uniformity of the relief and stand out for their bright colors. But these goalkeepers are nothing more than the mere squires of the great Croatian star, the Plitvice National Park, a set of 16 lakes connected to each other by the same current, which produces waterfalls, jumps and beautiful pools. where the water softens and turns blue and green . Through paths and wooden bridges, the visitor accesses from postcard to postcard, recreating himself with the murmur of the infinite flow.
Definitely, Croatia I could not present a goalkeeper with better quality, reflexes and alternatives. Goal for Croatia, the power of Plitvice pushes his team to close the gap. The scoreboard is on fire but La Roja continues to win 2-1.
Footbridge over Plitvice lake in Croatia
4.- Ports
Apparently, Spain plays with an advantage. Specifically about 4000 kilometers, which is the difference in length of the coasts of both countries. However, both squads' seaport-shaped lead is admirable. A duel at the top with many world-renowned battering rams in which Spain demonstrates its variety while Croatia bets on the extreme beauty of these enclaves.
The forward of La Roja has infinite alternatives. The first of them, that of cities that have grown under the protection of their port and that today continue to mark their lives, either through commercial exchange or through their unmistakable maritime aesthetics, which attracts numerous tourists. This is the case of Cádiz, Cartagena or San Sebastián; gates to the sea that have in their ancient aftertaste a striking leg of international dazzling. To these are added small enclaves in which the docks are their main attraction, without forgetting the respective fishing district as Ciutadella in Minorca, Comillas in Cantabria either Mundaka in Vizcaya.
Finally, in the new creations we can also trust the goal of Spain with the top scorer Puerto Banús and new references such as Mogan , in Gran Canaria.
The new and the old school Croatia They are the base of your attack. Demolishers, dribblers, with a proven reputation... these are the common characteristics of a club from a quartet formed by Dubrovnik, Split, Istria Y Rijeka . The first is the genius of world football, a corner that leaves no doubt, that does not cause discussions in bars or doubts in his game. The almost two million visitors that the cruise ships leave in its streets confirm it as the obligatory port of the Adriatic. The crack of the team is seconded Split , a modern and chic pier, from where the luxurious yachts that ply the Dalmatian coast depart.
Blue and white in the port of Dubrovnik, Croatia
Istria Lovers of old football fall in love with its old flavor, its turquoise waters that counteract the green of its rugged coasts. This four leaf clover completes it Rijeka with its imposing bay. But in addition to its sacred cows, it is worth highlighting the new port concept of enclaves such as Zadar or Biograd na Moru, a port that keeps almost a thousand sailboats.
Difficult decision, but the role of the Croatian enclaves weighs too heavily, which have taken advantage of its coast to give away impressive postcards. Goal for the Balkans. Tie at 2 on our scoreboard.
5.- Caves
The benches of both squads exude experience, although they are no less risky in their tactics and in their ways. A clash that is played by the caves, dark objects of desire for adventurers, but which over time have been adapted so that all types of visitors become entangled in their galleries, stalactites and stalagmites. Spanish trainers mix spectacularity with art. And so the team works perfectly for them, led by the caves of karstic origin that give character to the game and by the rock caves, which provide art and delicacy to the tactics of La Roja.
The first group includes caves that are a must for many tourists who come to our shores. The best known are those of Nerja, with their threatening stalactites and impressive limestone columns. It is closely followed by those of the Drach , in Majorca with similar arguments. A more romantic option are those of Vall d'Uixo in Castellon , an underground river that offers a beautiful boat ride. On the artistic side, it stands out the sistine chapel of cave art: Altamira, in Cantabria . The brilliance of this trainer outshines other wise old men like the caves of Tito Bustillo (Cantabria) or those of the Casares , in Guadalajara ; impressive site of engravings and frescoes that can be enjoyed in an adventurous and winding visit.
The technical staff of the chessboards is headed by the **Blue Cave (Modra Spilja) **, a real candy for the eyes since the waters inside it turn an extreme blue with the reflection of the sun. The dragon cave It is an immense gallery full of ambiguous sculptures like that of a dragon carved by monks at the beginning of the 15th century. These religious also carved a chapel , although they must not have clear concepts of Christian imagery since it is full of pagan symbols. More in connection with the fauna is its physical trainers. Baredine is a cave where the Olms live , the direct ancestor of many lizards that retains its prehistoric appearance.
For its part, Veternica includes the passage of the Cave Bear, an extinct species of immense proportions , as deduced from the fossils found there. The contribution of art that La Roja receives from its coaches is vital.
Spain breaks the tie, takes the victory and, by the way, goes to the quarterfinals. Now all that remains is to wait for a rival: France? England? Ukraine? Patience... and confidence, because our team has strength and arguments to beat everyone.
Altamira, the sistine chapel of cave art