Holders Spain strike late to beat Switzerland in Nations League
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Spain forward Yeremi Pino celebrates with Nico Williams after scoring the first goal in the 3-2 Nations League win over Switzerland.
PHOTO: AFP
TENERIFE – Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was an emotional man after Bryan Zaragoza won and converted a late penalty to help his Euro 2024 winners beat Switzerland 3-2 in a Nations League dead rubber on Nov 18.
The Nations League holders, already guaranteed top spot in Group A4, twice took the lead but were pegged back by the already-relegated Swiss at Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Stadium in Tenerife, which hosted a first Spain match on the island in 28 years.
“I’m proud to be Spanish, to have a fan base like the one in Tenerife and to experience the national team the way we are experiencing it,” said de la Fuente.
“I am extremely proud of the players, they are insatiable. They always want to improve and grow, and so I am proud to lead a national team like ours.”
Looking at the bigger picture, he added: “We needed and wanted to finish the year with a win, which only goes to add to all the good things we have done during the year. When you get used to winning, it’s hard not to. These players always want to win.
“You have to see how they train, what their day-to-day lives are like. We have a magnificent present and a wonderful future.”
The 63-year-old changed his whole line-up from the win over Denmark on Nov 15, handing Athletic Bilbao centre-back Aitor Paredes his debut.
In the 32nd minute, captain Alvaro Morata won a penalty after defender Ricardo Rodriguez tripped the striker, who handed Pedri, born in Tenerife, the ball to take the spot kick.
However, goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo saved the Barcelona midfielder’s effort. Yeremy Pino, a Canary Islander, converted the rebound to send Spain ahead.
“Here at home with a goal, the win... I can’t ask for more. It was a very special game... full marks to the fans,” Pino told TVE.
De la Fuente sent on another Spain debutant at half-time in Porto striker Samu Aghehowa.
Joel Monteiro levelled for Switzerland but, a few minutes later, Bryan Gil stole the ball back to restore Spain’s lead.
Andi Zeqiri fired home from the spot in the 85th minute after a foul by Fabian Ruiz, but Zaragoza ensured Spain could finish a spectacular year on a high.
The winger, on loan at Osasuna from Bayern Munich, burst into the box and was brought crashing down by Vincent Sierro. He clinically dispatched the resulting penalty to spark jubilant celebrations.
Spain’s 2024 began with a 1-0 loss to Colombia in a friendly, but since then have gone unbeaten in 16 games, including winning Euro 2024 in Germany.
Despite the thrilling win and the impressive year, de la Fuente also insisted that he was not getting ahead of himself.
“There is a lot of work to do, we have to keep working, keep watching the players. But we enjoy it, we are happy doing our job, we feel privileged with this work,” he added. AFP, REUTERS
