Spain could not have started Euro 2024 better, a tournament for which a priori it is not presented as one of the main candidates. Perhaps this role can serve so that Luis de la Fuente’s pupils feel less pressure on their shoulders and … They are shaping up to surprise and, why not, fight for that fourth title that would catapult La Roja to the top of the list, breaking the tie with the host Germany. There are reasons for this after the initial rout (3-0) against Croatia, the second time that the team has started the continental tournament with a three-goal difference. The previous precedent dates back to 2008 with that 4-1 defeat to Russia for Luis Aragonés’s team that sowed the seeds of the second trophy that rests in the showcases of Las Rozas.
Optimism has been unleashed in Spain at the same time that the rest of the countries are on alert. He has even said it Kylian Mbappé himself: «It is a great team that is going to count. “I’m sure he’s going to do good things, but I hope he doesn’t go far for the good of France.” The new Real Madrid striker issued the warning in advance of the debut against France’s Austria, the main candidate for the throne (Monday, 9 p.m.).
In the French nation, the prestigious L’Équipe dedicated three main pieces on Spanish performance this Sunday in its digital version. One of them focused on Fabián Ruiz, a PSG player and named best player of the match against the checkered team thanks to his assist to Morata and a goal in just three minutes. The newspaper says that “the Cinderella Fabián became a mix between Iniesta and Messi” and highlighted that La Roja had lost possession in a match after 16 years. “It suggests a team capable of playing faster, without obsession.” He also explains, with the regulation in hand, why Petkovic’s goal did not go up on the scoreboard after Unai Simón’s stop from eleven meters.
Another world champion like Gianluigi Buffon also warns of the danger of the Spanish team, precisely Italy’s rival on Thursday (9 p.m.). The truth is that the duels against the transalpine team are a classic of the Euro Cups. In 2008 Spain defeated the ‘Azzurra’ in the quarterfinal penalty shootout and in 2012 they crushed them in the final. There was a ‘vendetta’ in the 2016 round of 16 and in the penalty shootout in the 2021 semifinals. «In the 2016 Euro Cup we played tricks on the Spanish team, but that was a Spain at the end of its cycle or with important players that they would soon leave the selection. This, on the other hand, is a strong and tough team,” said the legendary goalkeeper, head of the Italian delegation in Germany.
«Spain has changed. “Here is his strong point,” praised Claudio Marchisio, a member of that Italy runner-up in 2012. The newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport also refers to Fabián for his status as a former Naples player. In fact, the Italian newspaper is harsh against the figure of Luis Enrique: “he expelled him from the last World Cup and this year he finally made him a starter due to lack of real alternatives.”
“He silenced the skeptics”
England is another potential winner. His coach Gareth Southgate acknowledged that he did not miss a single detail of the La Roja match. «I saw Germany and Spain play today. There are many good teams in this tournament. We have to be exceptional to advance from the group and have the opportunity to go further. Our goal is to qualify in the group. When you try to achieve exceptional things you have to break it down into pieces. The first priority is to pass the group and work from there,” he declared on the eve of his debut against Serbia this Sunday at 9 p.m.
In the British Isles, The Daily Mail says Spain “silenced the skeptics with a resounding victory.” In fact, this medium has a podcast in which they say that this could be the beginning of the next “golden generation” in Spain. “All the usual technical art and courage to make complex passes, but with a direct threat,” the outlet praised La Roja.
#Argentina
