Mikel Oyarzabal, Nations League star, cites Neville Londubat of Harry Potter
On July 14, 2024, at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, Mikel Oyarzabal delivered victory to Spain in the Nations League, a gesture that recalled Neville Longbottom's heroic journey in the Harry Potter saga. After Nico Williams opened the scoring, England equalised thanks to Cole Palmer, before Oyarzabal sealed it with an unstoppable strike against Jordan Pickford.
A decisive match in the heart of Berlin
The duel pitted La Roja against England, both teams seeming headed for extra time. In the 47th minute, Nico Williams found the back of the net, igniting Spanish hopes. Twenty‑six minutes later, Cole Palmer restored balance for the English, extending the suspense.
It was only after a perfectly executed one‑two with Marc Cucurella that Oyarzabal could place the ball in the back of the net, neutralising Jordan Pickford with a close‑range strike. This goal sealed the continental title for La Roja, marking a key moment in the competition.
Statistics and the journey of an anti‑hero
At 29, Eibar’s number 21 has amassed five World Cup goals, including a penalty in the semi‑final against France, and scored a new thunderous strike against England on the opening day of the Nations League. He currently has 18 contributions in his last 20 matches with Spain, an efficiency rate that the football audience still seems to underestimate.
Spain aims to consolidate its Nations League lead in Seville
His international career began on May 29, 2016 against Bosnia‑Herzegovina, but he then missed Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. In 2022, a left‑knee anterior cruciate ligament rupture kept him out of the World Cup in Qatar, and he recorded zero touches of the ball during the first thirty minutes of a match against Cape Verde this summer.
Literary parallel with Neville Longbottom
The text compares Oyarzabal to Neville Longbottom, a clumsy character at the start of the Harry Potter series, who becomes the leader of the resistance and slays Nagini during the Battle of Hogwarts. This analogy highlights the transformation of a football “anti‑hero” into a decisive figure, recalling Robert Louis Stevenson’s maxim: “The important thing is not the destination, it’s the journey.”
Despite a style sometimes deemed awkward, with long legs and a lanky silhouette, Oyarzabal remains a formidable scorer when he wears the La Roja shirt. His surgical efficiency and obstacle‑laden journey reinforce the parallel with the literary hero, offering spectators a story where talent and perseverance triumph.