Spain seeks EURO 2024 in Oslo
The Spanish team must beat Norway to close its mathematical classification for the next continental event
MADRID, 14 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s soccer team will try to end any type of suspense this Sunday and close its mathematical classification for next year’s Euro Cup in Germany on its visit to Norway in Oslo (8:45 p.m./La 1), for which it needs to win to a rival that is risking its options and that will have the trump card of Erling Haaland this time.
Luis de la Fuente’s team, with a lot of work, managed to get three vital points this past Wednesday at the La Cartuja Stadium in Seville by beating Scotland 2-0, until then the undefeated leader of Group A of the qualifying phase. and take a giant step towards the EURO, although he has to close it.
Spain showed that it continues to strengthen its new project under the leadership of the Rioja coach and established itself in second place with 12 points, three less than the Scots, although with one game less, and two ahead of Norway, which also has a duel further. The victory against Stephen Clarke’s men avoided any major emergencies ahead of the visit to the Ullevaal, but the ‘Red’ must win to prevent the suspense from lengthening.
Scotland and Norway can reach a maximum of 21 and 16 points respectively, but both teams have yet to meet on British soil, so one of the two will not achieve it. The Spanish team, if they lose in Oslo, would still have to play against Georgia and Cyprus; then it could reach a maximum of 18 points, with an added advantage if it wins the goal difference with the Nordic team, which it beat 3-0 at La Rosaleda for De la Fuente’s debut as coach.
In this way, although defeat would be an obvious step backwards, the Nations League champion would still depend on itself to, at least, access EURO 2024 as second in the group. Furthermore, the title won in June still gives them the ‘bullet’ of the play-offs if there were a dramatic collapse in these last matches.
But the three-time European champion seems to be going through a good moment of results and confidence that, thanks to less pressure than her rival, will make her arrive with good feelings and as a favorite for this duel on Sunday, but also warned of the problems that caused her pass the Norwegian team despite the 3-0 and the absence of their great star.
De la Fuente has lost two pieces for this match: full-back Alejandro Balde, who started against Scotland, but who could not play the second half, and winger Nico Williams, who already stayed in the stands at La Cartuja. The coach has called Alfonso Pedraza to solely cover the FC Barcelona footballer’s trump card.
The Villarreal CF player does not seem like he will be a starter and that the left back will be the responsibility of the Madrid player Fran García in a defense where the veteran Jesús Navas, key in the 1-0 against Scotland, could play on the opposite side to the detriment of Dani Carvajal.
In the midfield, no changes are expected due to the importance of the match, although De la Fuente could bring renewed energy with the entry of Fabián Ruiz for Mikel Merino and Oihan Sancet for the tireless Gavi, while up top, the scoring moment of Álvaro Morata gives him the advantage over Joselu Mato.
Finally, on the offensive sides, the one from Haro opted for the duo Ferran Torres and Mikel Oyarzabal who have signs of repeating themselves given the losses of Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal and Yéremi Pino, although the coach did not hesitate to bring in Bryan Zaragoza, the only one dribbler that he has left, after the break against Scotland and the Granada player could be the surprise.
Opposite, a Norway that has more emergencies than the Spanish team. The Nordic team successfully obtained the three points required during their visit to Cyprus (0-4), but their defeats against the Spanish and Scottish and the draw against Georgia have left them with no margin and not even winning their last two games can help them. .
The team coached by Stale Solbakken already put up a lot of ‘war’ last March in Malaga, where they had good chances and where they ended up taking a knee after two late goals from Joselu that reflected a difference in the score that was not such in the general of the party.
Now, unlike that game, he will be able to count on his great threat, Erling Haaland, who already scored a double in the last game and who will surely give the Spanish defense a lot of work along with an also recently inspired Alexander Sorloth, Villarreal forward . With its two dangers up front, Norway will appeal to its physicality and its more vertical game to create problems once again for the ‘Red’.
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
NORWAY: Newland; Ryerson, Ajer, Ostigard, Meling; Berge, Aursnes, Odegaard; Solbakken, Sorloth y Haaland.
SPAIN: Simón; Navas, Le Normand, Laporte, Fran García; Rodri, Sancet, Fabián Ruiz; Ferran Torres, Oyarzabal and Morata.
–REFEREE: Tobias Stieler (ALE).
–ESTADIUM: Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo.
–TIME: 20.45/La 1.