Laporte the bulwark of Spain’s near-impenetrable World Cup defence | OneFootball

Laporte has been the bulwark of Spain’s near-impenetrable back line as La Roja clinched a second World Cup star.

According to El Correo, Aymeric Laporte, 32 and born in Agen, rejoined Athletic last summer to compete at the highest level. He aimed to convince Luis de la Fuente, who has a long Bilbao past as player and coach, to include him in the 26 for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Spanish federation has since highlighted a 2022 press conference in which, asked why Spain could win it, he answered with another question, essentially, why not.

He reached 50 caps during the finals and featured throughout. In the win over Austria, he only sat out stoppage time when Marc Pubill came on.

Against France he completed every pass he attempted and his defending left Mbappé, Dembélé, Barcola and Doué second best.

In the final he almost scored late in normal time and was substituted in the 99th minute for Eric García.

Laporte anchored a back line with teenage Cubarsí, named the tournament’s best young player, flanked by indefatigable full-backs Marc Cucurella, now a Real Madrid player, and Tottenham’s Pedro Porro.

Source: El Correo