Mikel Oyarzabal’s favourite distance is 11 metres | OneFootball

Mikel Oyarzabal has made 11 metres his comfort zone, with 60 penalties taken and 52 scored for an 86% return.

According to Diario Vasco, the Real Sociedad captain began at 21 with two conversions in a San Mamés derby, and Luis de la Fuente’s trust has made him Spain’s first-choice ahead of Lamine Yamal.

He has taken 54 for Real Sociedad, converting 46, including the strike that delivered the 2020 Copa del Rey at La Cartuja against Athletic, played in 2021. He also scored in April’s Copa final against Atlético.

After 15 in a row from 2018 to 2021 came a first miss in a Supercopa semi shootout with Barcelona, then two more against Manchester United and Levante. He kept demanding the ball, and the next brought redemption at La Cartuja.

His routine has shifted from a late hop and a standing hit to a mid-run jump that adds power. He mixes sides too, going left in the Copa final and right in Dallas against France, where Maignan guessed correctly but could not reach.

For Spain he is six from six across the Olympics, Euros, Nations League, World Cup qualifying and now a World Cup finals match. Only one came in a shootout, against Switzerland at Euro 2020.

He has not yet converted one in the Champions League. This season he has taken 14 across club and country, missing only once against Osasuna. Sunday’s World Cup final awaits, and if a penalty comes he will take it.

Source: Diario Vasco