MADRID, 13 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s soccer team, with Luis de la Fuente at the head of the bench, has won its last two games of the qualifying phase for Euro 2024, leaving very good feelings, recovering its scoring nose and good play, and with high-level individual performances that make the fans begin to get excited about high levels.
One of the most important national team breaks in recent years did not come at the best time. The uproar in the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), as a result of the ‘Rubiales case’, had questioned the coach and even the players themselves, and the previous poor results on the road to EURO 2024 had generated tension.
However, only eight days after starting the concentration in Las Rozas (Madrid), the ‘Red’ has closed this international window with two outstanding victories against Georgia and against Cyprus. That has meant a harvest of six out of six on points, with 13 brilliant goals in favor and placing second in a Group A that is less worrying.
Luis de la Fuente’s team knew the importance of these games. For this reason, the squad wanted to settle the ‘Rubiales case’ with a joint statement in which everyone rejected the behavior of the now former president of the RFEF, and thus concentrate on purely sporting matters to face the two upcoming commitments in the best possible way.
And in sports, Spain has been outstanding. Visiting Tbilisi seemed like one of those usual traps in every qualifying phase, due to the pressure from the stands and the level of some rivals. But Luis de la Fuente’s pupils had the best game so far in Group A, with a resounding victory and passing over the local team. The ‘Roja’ was a roller from the beginning until 1-7 of the final whistle.
An offensive machine to generate chances. Beyond those seven goals, Spain finished off 33 times, its highest number in a qualifying match for a Euro Cup since at least 2006. Spain dominated and minimized a Georgia team that, also in the country’s capital, had made them suffer in 2021 to Spain directed by Luis Enrique.
After that particular redemption, three days later against Cyprus there was confirmation that this ‘Roja’ finishes many more plays than before when ‘Lucho’ was coach. In the Nuevo Los Cármenes, De la Fuente’s team shot 28 times at Joël Mall’s goal, ending up scoring six of them.
FINISH EVERY FEWER COACHES
But the number of shots is not the only data that shows the change in chip, since with De la Fuente there is an improvement in the offensive numbers. If the qualifying phase for the World Cup in Qatar and the current one for EURO 2024 are taken as a reference, Spain has gone from finishing off every 59 passes to doing so every 39, with a greater predisposition to finish plays.
Furthermore, the verticality of the team with the ‘lion’ Nico Williams and the culé Lamine Yamal means that the average number of passes per play has dropped from 8 to 7, with wing play being much more important, making 26.8 crosses per game, for the 24 of the team that Luis Enrique trained.
Data that has been accompanied by great individual performances. The good form of men like Rodri Hernández, who has missed only 12 passes of the 212 he has made between both games, means that the team plays at its own pace. Furthermore, both Fabián Ruiz against Georgia and Mikel Merino against Cyprus contributed from the second line, one of the best ways to break the rival defense in a low block.
And if the midfield has been remarkable, the wingers have been outstanding. The aforementioned Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal have contributed boldness and imbalance on the wing. Between them they attempted 18 dribbles in the two games and scored a goal each. Furthermore, in the case of the Athletic Club player, he leaves the national team break with 3 assists, generating 9 scoring chances.
A Spain that excites itself and has restored the fans’ faith through goals, a dizzying style and a lot of youth. The next match to follow the evolution of Luis de la Fuente’s team will be on October 12, Columbus Day, against a Scotland that is leading the group.