Atlético Madrid defender Marc Pubill found himself in an unexpected starting role for Spain against England at Wembley, followed by a notable post-match exchange with a journalist.
Pubill was drafted into Luis de la Fuente’s starting eleven at right-back after Eric García, initially selected for the position, experienced discomfort during the warm-up and had to be withdrawn. This assignment marked a return to the flank for Pubill, who primarily plays as a centre-back for Atlético Madrid under Diego Simeone. While he has largely transitioned away from the right-back role at club level, it is a position he is familiar with from his earlier career.
Post-Match Exchange at Wembley
The focus shifted to Pubill again in the mixed zone after the match, where a journalist questioned him about an early moment in the game. The reporter described England’s Gordon getting past Pubill on the outside before pulling the ball back into the area.
Pubill, however, did not accept the premise of the question. He reportedly pushed back against the journalist’s description of the play, asking for clarification and querying the account of what had transpired in that opening sequence. Despite the reporter reiterating his version of events, Pubill did not concede the point.
When pressed on whether that early moment had made him anticipate a difficult evening, Pubill stated plainly that it had not. The interaction was described as a brief, low-key confrontation rather than a heated argument, but it stood out amidst routine post-match interviews. For a player who has demonstrated adaptability across different positions at both club and international levels, the exchange served as a reminder of the constant scrutiny that accompanies every performance.