An emotional Sergio Busquets has admitted he doubted whether he would be able to feature at Euro 2020 before making a man-of-the-match performance in Spain's 5-0 win over Slovakia, which saw him qualify for the last 16. Qualified for
Busquets tested positive for COVID-19 on June 6 and had to isolate at home for two weeks before joining the squad on Friday.
The Barcelona midfielder played 71 minutes of Spain's final group game on Wednesday, earning his first win of the tournament.
"I'm emotional. I had a bad time, a lot of days at home," he said, struggling to hold back tears as he spoke to Telecinco after the match. "I didn't know if I could come back or not. But the group is strong... it's all that kept us going."
"It was not easy because you are waiting for a negative PCR test," he added at the Postmatch news conference. "I have teammates who have done one after more than 20 days. I wanted to play at this Euro, it would definitely be my last."
A goal from Slovakian goalkeeper Martin Dubravka opened the scoring in Seville before Aymeric Laporte, Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres and another goal from midfielder Juraj kucka gave Spain the joint-highest margin of victory by any team in the European Championship.
After finishing second in Group E, Spain will now take on Croatia in the round of 16 in Copenhagen on Monday.
"It was the game we wanted," Busquets said. "It's a boost for everyone. We're happy, we couldn't be earlier because it didn't depend on us, but it will definitely strengthen us going forward."
After receiving a few whistles from the home crowd at Seville's La Cartuja Stadium before Wednesday's spectacular turnaround, coach Luis Enrique after Spain began the tournament with two draws, 0-0 with Sweden and 1-1 with Poland. were under pressure.
Luis Enrique said, "How could I not be happier. The fans rejoiced, the players and their families can be happy too," Luis Enrique said. "We haven't given up. I said in the build-up that kava was going to be uncut, and here it is. [The criticism] hasn't hurt me. It's part of the profession."
The match saw Adama Traore make his tournament debut, and the winger later admitted that he had to adapt to an unfamiliar full-back role when Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta was injured.
"I've never played on a right-back," admitted Traore. "The boss said there was a little problem with Azpilicueta, I said 'wherever the team needed me.' It was my first time, but to help the team, anything. I'll also put on gloves [to play in the goal] and see what happens!"