Spain coach urges his exciting team to keep feet on the ground at Euro 2024
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Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has insisted that his team are keeping their feet on the ground despite being favourites now to win Euro 2024.
PHOTO: REUTERS
DUSSELDORF – Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told his team not to get carried away after they completed the Euro 2024 group stage with a perfect record and without conceding a single goal.
The 1-0 win over Albania in Dusseldorf on June 24 with a second-string side came after they started the competition by beating Croatia 3-0 and then defeating Italy 1-0 in a tough Group B.
Those results mean the three-time European champions are being seen as leading contenders to go all the way and win the title again, and optimism is growing back in Spain.
“It doesn’t cost anything to dream, but we need to keep our feet on the ground,” de la Fuente said after the win over Albania, which was settled by Ferran Torres’ 13th-minute winner.
“Every game is so even, but again we got a clean sheet and we have nine points. We need to remain calm but of course, we have been dreaming since the very beginning.”
Spain’s group-stage performance matches that of Italy at the last European Championship three years ago, when they also took a maximum nine points and kept three clean sheets in the first round.
The Azzurri went on to win the title – an encouraging sign for the Spaniards, but de la Fuente reiterated that he is taking nothing for granted.
“We still have room for improvement because we have exceptional players who can still offer more,” he said.
“We are not settling for what we have done. These players are really ambitious. We can improve in every aspect. We know how things work in Spain... one day you’re at the top and the next day you’re worthless.”
The Spaniards will play a last-16 tie in Cologne on June 30 but will have to wait to find out which of the best third-place finishers from the group stage they will face.
Whoever it is, de la Fuente will bring back many of the players who were rested against Albania.
He made 10 changes to his starting line-up compared to the previous match against Italy, with only Aymeric Laporte keeping his place.
The 63-year-old was glad he could give opportunities to all but his third-choice goalkeeper Alex Remiro and was confident his side were ready for the knockout stages.
“Today we wanted first of all to win, of course. Then we wanted to give a chance to everyone to participate,” he said.
“But in any case, we’ll be mentally prepared and ready to go all out to overcome this next (last-16) tie.” REUTERS, AFP
