Spain embarks on its way to Paris in Bucharest

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Spain embarks on its way to Paris in Bucharest

The Under-21 debut in the European against the host Romania in search of its sixth continental title and a ticket to the Games

MADRID, 20 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Spanish Under-21 team faces this Wednesday against co-hosts Romania (8:45 p.m./Teledeporte) its debut in the European Championship of the category, an appointment in which Santi Denia’s men hope to confirm themselves as the most successful team on the continent in search of of a ticket for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

At the Stadionul Steaua in Bucharest, Santi Denia’s men, who have taken over from Luis de la Fuente at the helm of ‘la Rojita’, begin the path towards what could be their sixth European title (1986, 1998, 2011, 2013 and 2019), which would allow them to break the tie with Italy (5) at the top of the competition’s record.

Two years ago, Portugal closed in the semifinals (1-0), in the last defeat so far -not counting the one suffered in the qualifying phase against Russia, which was later eliminated by the war-, the way to the final of the team then led by the coach from La Rioja, now in charge of the absolute, and the appointment co-organized by Georgia and Romania offers him the possibility of making up for it. To do this, they will have to overcome a Group B in which the Romanians will also be Ukraine and Croatia.

In addition to the incentive of the title, Spain, which faces its eleventh participation in the final phase of a tournament that it has won in three of the last six editions played, also aspires to conquer one of the four places that the tournament will distribute for the Olympic Games in the French capital, where he wants to defend or improve the silver achieved in Tokyo.

It is also up in the air if Santi Denia and up to six footballers -Abel Ruiz, Hugo Guillamón, Víctor Gómez, Juan Miranda, Sergio Gómez and Antonio Blanco- are capable of completing the continental ‘triplet’ for the 2000-01 generation: European Sub- 17 -Croatia 2017-, European Under-19 -Armenia 2019- and European Under-21.

The numbers in the qualifying phase augur well: full of victories in the eight games played, 37 goals for and only five conceded and nine points ahead of second-placed Group C, Slovakia. The euphoria was partly lowered in the last friendly before traveling to Romania, the draw against Mexico U-23 (1-1).

Only the Real Betis midfielder Rodri Sánchez has been a starter in the three games led so far by the coach from Albacete, who must opt ​​for the Barcelona player Arnau Tenas or the ‘lion’ Julen Agirrezabala under sticks.

Arnau Martínez, Hugo Guillamón, Jon Pacheco and Juan Miranda aim to constitute the defense with which ‘la Rojita’ will open the competition, with Antonio Blanco from Alava in the pivot position and the ‘groget’ Álex Baena and Gabri Veiga, a great sensation at the end of the season with Celta, articulating the Spanish game. Captain Abel Ruiz, top scorer in the qualifying phase with seven goals, will form the ‘9’, and Rodri and Sergio Gómez are expected to complete the attacking trident.

Opposite, Romania begins its third consecutive final phase in a European Under-21 Championship in search of equaling or surpassing its top in the tournament, the 2019 semifinals, an edition in which Spain was proclaimed champion.

Undefeated in their last five official matches -two wins and three draws-, Emil Sandoi’s men have only suffered one defeat in their last 12 games, statistics with which they face a new game against the Iberian team nine months later.

In September, Spain, still with De la Fuente on the bench, beat the Romanians in a friendly match with braces from Abel Ruiz and Roro Riquelme (1-4). Four years earlier, ‘la Rojita’ also defeated the Eastern European team in Granada with a solitary by Mikel Merino (1-0).

In addition, Arnau Tenas, Jon Pacheco and Álex Baena were part of the Spanish team that beat Romania 1-0 in the qualifying phase for the European Under-19 Championship in October 2019.

———————Multimedia content (graphics):

Statistics Spain qualifying phase EURO sub-21

https://www.epdata.es/estadisticas-espana-fase-clasificacion-euro-sub-21/bec1aa28-92b0-4f65-a64a-9245d740be70

DATASHEET.

–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.

ROMANIA: Tarnovanu; Pantea, Screciu, Dican, Ticu; Isfan, Grameni, Albu, Petrila; Markovic and Munteanu.

SPAIN: Agirrezabala; Arnau Martínez, Guillamón, Pacheco, Miranda; Blanco, Baena, Gabri Veiga; Rodri Sánchez, Sergio Gómez and Abel Ruiz.

–ARBITRATOR: Erik Lambrechts (BEL).

–ESTADIUM: Steaua Stadium.

–TIME: 20.45/Teledeporte.