Coach Luis de la Fuente hails Spain’s ‘insatiable hunger’ as they reach Nations League quarter-finals
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Spain's Aymeric Laporte celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the match between Spain and Serbia, in Cordoba.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
CORDOBA – Coach Luis de la Fuente hailed his squad depth and their “insatiable sporting hunger” after reigning champions Spain powered into the Nations League quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory over Serbia on Oct 15.
His side made light work of their visitors at Nuevo Arcangel Stadium on a rainy night in Cordoba to guarantee progression from Group A4 with two matches to spare.
Said de la Fuente: “In sporting hunger, this group is insatiable. We want to go on and win the group now, and win both of our matches in November. Anything less than this attitude would be letting ourselves down.”
Despite missing several star names who were key to their Euro 2024 triumph, Spain were dominant and won with goals from Aymeric Laporte, Alvaro Morata and Alex Baena.
“We are in another final stage of a major tournament and that is something to be proud of,” captain Morata told Spanish broadcaster TVE.
“We have several injured players, we missed them but we have to look at the positives that are young players stepping up. What we have created is special and we have to keep going forward. Spain have an incredible future.”
La Roja were without teenage wing wizard Lamine Yamal, who returned to Barcelona after the 1-0 win over Denmark on Oct 12 with a minor hamstring strain, as well as a string of injured players.
Long-term absentees Rodri and Dani Carvajal have been replaced by Martin Zubimendi and Pedro Porro respectively, with Villarreal’s Baena starting in place of Yamal.
De la Fuente said: “We’re in a team-building process. I love situations like this because we are able to give opportunities to footballers who aren’t high profile to make themselves known. We’ve got a lot of cracking footballers in Spain.”
His opposite number Dragan Stojkovic agreed, saying: “They’re a really good team. They had more ideas and were quicker. It’s no coincidence that they’re European champions...
“When Spain give the impression that they could play two completely separate 11s and perform just as well, that’s a powerful statement.”
Spain are unbeaten in 14 matches and, unlike in the tight 0-0 draw in Belgrade in September, created a flood of chances.
Centre-back Laporte sent the hosts ahead in the fifth minute when he nodded home Porro’s cross.
Morata, who had not scored for Spain since the first game of the Euro, should have doubled his team’s lead soon after the break. But the AC Milan striker rifled a penalty high over the crossbar after Veljko Birmancevic handled Porro’s cross.
Morata kept plugging away and eventually found the net with a neatly-placed finish after Fabian Ruiz played him in.
With 14 minutes remaining, Serbia’s night took a turn for the worse when Strahinja Pavlovic was sent off for bringing down Euro 2024 final scorer Mikel Oyarzabal as he burst towards the box.
Despite Pavlovic’s efforts to deny Spain a third, Baena expertly dispatched the resulting free kick.
In the other match in the group on Oct 15, Switzerland drew 2-2 with Denmark in St Gallen.
The Danes are second in Group A4, three adrift of Spain on seven points. Serbia are third on four points, with the Swiss last on just one. AFP, REUTERS
