“If Spain wins the European Championship, let’s celebrate with German cake”

Siblings Salinas They leave their mark wherever they go. After their time as footballers, Patxi and Julio, went through several television shows and did not disappoint. From dazzling in dance competitions like ‘Look Who’s Baila’, to risking his life in ‘El Conquistador’. But if there’s one thing we didn’t expect, and that’s that they still manage to leave their family with their mouths open, this is their last step in ‘Bake Off: Baked celebrities‘, a gastronomic ‘show’.

In the program, which is looking for the best famous pastry chef in Spain, Patxi and Julio They did not forget their sport and offered several desserts to it, reaching the point where the oldest of the brothers sang the Champions League anthem live. Their sibling relationship brings joy and Patxi He makes sure it reaches people. “I realized that when I go to programs with him, regardless of whether he is right or not, I am happy,” said the youngest of Salinas.

Then prepare some cakes in ‘Bake Off‘, now with the Euro Cup in their sights, the Salinas were asked what dessert they would prepare for Luis de la Fuente, the current coach of Spain. While Patxi responded that as a good Riojan, she would make him a chocolate cake with good wine from La Rioja; Julio chose flan con leche, a dish they eat every Saturday when they concentrate on Lezama.

And his friendship with From the origin It goes back more than 40 years, when in 1981 they met at the Athletic Club. All three are players for the Bilbao club and the brothers assured that apart from now the coach, Luis is your friend “We are very happy for him. He suffered and fought hard, but all the wonderful work he does every day was confirmed at the Euro Cup,” said the Salinas brothers.

Thinking about their friendship, all are “wonderful memories.” Of all the moments, the one that stands out is when, after winning their first league in 1983-1984, the three joined Miguel de Andrés in the Dominican Republic to celebrate the title. The trip was so much fun that a year later, they were champions again, and decided to travel to Brazil, where player Ismael Urtubi also joined.

“Although on the bench, as a coach, Luis clearly gives an image of seriousness, he is a really funny and ‘jolly’ person,” said Patxi. At the same time, Julio adds that “He is always laughing, his character is very pleasant, but he also hits good shots and that is why I think he is a very good manager for a group.”

The Spanish team will face Georgia tomorrow in the round of 16 and both July number Patxi They believe that Spain is, by far, the best team so far in the Euro Cup. For the first time in its history, it has won its first three games and kept a clean sheet, a fact that supports Luis de la Fuente’s strategy. “He made a great team with very young players and with some that I don’t think many selectors will take and they stand in an impeccable way,” said Julio.

The world of gastronomy and sports are intertwined in many aspects. Both need to have the necessary ingredients so that the results are as expected. And in case of choice, Patxi He believes that Spain’s surprise ingredient is in the level of technology, especially in terms of the recovery of footballers. Unlike Julio who thinks that the real surprise factor is: “The enthusiasm, the youth, what Luis de la Fuente and the crew have transmitted, who form a great team. What makes them unique is more than a team, it’s a team.

Of all the players standing at the Euro Cup, Salinas points to two in particular. Patxi believe that the nature of Luka Modric It is to be admired, because “The fact that at 38 years old he has the ability to run as much or more than players twice his age and to have a wonderful Euro Cup, even the other day he scored the tying goal, was amazing.” ”. Instead, Julio praised Lamine Yamal, the youngest player to participate in the competition. “He’s a 16-year-old boy who has a way of hitting the ball and going at it without fear and with a lot of confidence. The courage that he has seems incredible and unimaginable to me,” admitted the former player of Barça.

There are just two weeks left before the final of Euro 2024 and the Salinas brothers are clear that if Spain become champions, they will celebrate the title with a German cake “to thank them for everything”. Julio will choose the apple pie Strudel and Patxi, on the other hand, will try the German cake, made of layered chocolate, covered and filled with a mixture of coconut zest and walnuts.