MADRID, 4 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Forward Abel Ruiz acknowledged that he was “very happy” for being called up to the Spanish national team, a “dream” after “enjoying the lower categories a lot”, for which he hopes to “learn a lot” from his “great teammates”.
“Very happy, very happy, to be able to be here with the senior team. It was my dream, it’s my dream since I was little, after enjoying the lower categories a lot,” said the Sporting de Braga attacker in statements to the media of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), upon arrival at the concentration this Monday at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas, in Madrid.
Ruiz already has two matches on his resume, both in 2011, against Lithuania, in which the ‘Rojita’ had to play due to the coronavirus outbreak in the weeks prior to the EURO, and against Georgia, where he also started with the absolute . Although it is now when he can “make the leap” with the absolute in a call “with great teammates”. “I’m sure I’m going to learn a lot from them,” he wished.
In addition, Atlético de Madrid defender César Azpilicueta also returned to a national team list, for the first time since the World Cup in Qatar. The Navarrese expects “an exciting season” by participating in the first concentration of the course.
“We know that we have a difficult qualification for the Eurocup and we are looking forward to facing these two games”, indicated the rojiblanco, about the matches against Georgia and Cyprus, corresponding to the qualifying phase of the EURO in Germany next year.
And to reinforce their confidence, the players will have the Spanish fans on their side, who “always” accompanies them, as assured by the central defender Pau Torres, who is also returning after the World Cup. “Let them come see us, we are very grateful,” asked the Aston Villa player.
The Spanish men’s soccer team gathered this Monday at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas (Madrid) to begin preparing for the matches against Georgia and Cyprus, corresponding to the qualifying phase of the Euro Cup in Germany next year.
The 24 summoned by the coach Luis de la Fuente were arriving throughout the morning at the federation facilities where in the afternoon, starting at 7:00 p.m., they will carry out their first training session, behind open doors. Subsequently, the national team will do two more sessions, both in the morning, before flying on Wednesday to Tbilisi, the scene of their duel on Friday the 8th (6:00 p.m.) against Georgia at the Boris Paichadze Stadium in the Georgian capital.
The team will return that same day to Madrid where they will train on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday they will travel to Granada for one last training session at the Nuevo Los Cármenes Stadium where on Tuesday the 12th, at 8:45 p.m., they will receive Cyprus.