Spain star Pablo Sarabia snaps back at Rafael van der Vaart for talking ‘s***’

Spain star Pablo Sarabia snaps back at Rafael van der Vaart for talking ‘s***’ about his nation’s slow start to Euro 2020 as Koke reminds former Holland man about his failure to stop Andres Iniesta in the 2010 World Cup final


Spain players have pledged to store the scathing assessment of former Holland star Rafael van der Vaart about their shaky start in Euro 2020 in their memory banks should they come up against the Oranje later in the tournament.

Van der Vaart, featuring as a pundit for Dutch broadcaster NOS during the tournament, said Spain’s performances so far have been ‘horrible’ and they ‘only switch from one side to the other.’

Van der Vaart piled in with his assessment after watching the 2008 and 2012 champions fail to produce anything of note in their first two games against Poland and Sweden, and make do with two stalemates.

Rafael van der Vaart has been giving his verdicts on sports broadcaster NOS and chose to hammer Spain for their two opening draws at Euro 2020, against Poland and Sweden

Van der Vaart had said: ‘Spain is horrible. I hope we (Holland) will play against them. 

‘There is nothing in this team. All they do is switch from one side to the other. They don’t even have a player who knows how to make a final pass.’ 

The words of the former Real Madrid and Tottenham man have however caused a huge stir in the Spanish media and irked a number of the players – including Pablo Sarabia and Koke – who have now returned fire.

During their media duties this week, Sarabia openly stated Van der Vaart has ‘said s***’ before himself and Atletico Madrid man Koke each noted that the former central midfielder has got a lot to say for somebody who failed to stop Andres Iniesta scoring the only goal in the 2010 World Cup final.

Both Koke (left) and Pablo Sarabia have taken exception at hit back at the former midfielder

Both Koke (left) and Pablo Sarabia have taken exception at hit back at the former midfielder

‘Van der Vaart wanted his moment of glory and he is having it,’ said Spain midfielder Koke on Spanish radio station Cadena COPE.

‘I saw him in the World Cup final, and here at our training base we have a picture of Iniesta’s goal against the Netherlands with him next to him. You have to respect people’s opinions but we’ll remember these words.

‘We’re not going to hang them up in the dressing room but we’ll keep them in our memories in case we end up playing (the Dutch).’

While Spain have made their worst start to a Euros since 1996 and need to beat Slovakia on Wednesday to guarantee their place in the last 16, the Netherlands have won all three games and are the top scoring side in the tournament with eight goals.

Koke took the chance to remind Van der Vaart of his failure to stop Andres Iniesta in 2010

Koke took the chance to remind Van der Vaart of his failure to stop Andres Iniesta in 2010

Van der Vaart’s words also irked Spain midfielder Pablo Sarabia.

‘He made a big mistake with those comments,’ he told Radio Marca.

‘He was wrong in his statements, even more by being a footballer. He said s***. But the only memory I have of him is the 2010 World Cup and he didn’t do very well since we won the final.’