Luis de la Fuente, Spanish Under-21 and Olympic coach, said this Monday that of the 23 players who make up his last squad list plus “seven or eight footballers” the team will leave for the European which will be held next March in Hungary Y Slovenia.
Spain, undefeated and undisputed champion of Group 6 of the qualifying round, faces this Tuesday in front of Israel (18.45 h./Four) the last test before a European that is still four months away, although De la Fuente pointed out that the base of the team that will compete in the continental tournament already has it.
“We have the baseYou just have to see the calls that we have made lately, but I don't want to venture to make a calculation of how many could be, there is still a long time ahead. But of these 23 and seven or eight other players, the 30 who will be present at the European will come out, “he said at a virtual press conference.
The Spanish coach does not want to attribute to his team the condition of favorite in the European, but he trusts the possibilities he has to fight to repeat the title.
“We have to feel very important and capable of fighting for everything, regardless of the rivals who win their presence in the European Championship. We will be ready when the time comes to compete for everything. I do not consider myself a favorite, but I am prepared to compete with a guaranteed team and repeat the title, “he declared.
Spain will receive this Tuesday Israel, the only rival he has not beaten (1-1) in the qualifying phase that concludes this Tuesday. “It is a very important game because close the qualifying round. From the victory it is built better and we want to leave a good taste in our mouths, “he said.
The selection he directs Luis de la Fuente can finish undefeated for the first time a qualifying round for the European. “We attach great importance to that and to finish in the best possible way. Above all, for leaving a good feeling between now and March, “he commented.
By Brahim Díaz, of whom he assured after the match against the Faroe Islands (2-0) that we had to ask for more, stressed that he did not do so as a criticism: “It is the form of behavior and demand that we have with all the players. We must demand much more from everyone here. “
Defeated Faroe Islands 2-0 in last match
Brahim “can demand more because he can do more, not as a criticism, on the contrary, a recognition of his worth and his conditions,” he said.
Finally, he assessed the ownership of Unai Simon in the last games of the senior team “He is perfectly qualified to be a starter, and he has other teammates of a very high level who are also,” said De la Fuente, and stressed: “I know him very well and I am convinced that he will be a very important goalkeeper. ”