Spain starts the tests with a docile friendly
The Spanish team begins to prepare on the field for the EURO in Germany with a friendly against the modest Andorra
MADRID, 4 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s soccer team will play this Wednesday (9:30 p.m./La 1) at the Nuevo Vivero in Badajoz against the modest Andorra in the first of their two friendlies to prepare for the European Championship in Germany that starts next week, a first rehearsal that will serve above all to activate the internationals at a competitive level and to begin to clear up doubts for the final list.
Spain returns to action ten days after its debut in the continental event against Croatia, a much more demanding rival than the Andorran team, which will serve for Luis de la Fuente, recently renewed, to fine-tune things and begin that casting ‘ final to enter the final list.
Three of his 29 squad will fall and therefore this match and next Saturday’s match against a tougher and more physical opponent like Northern Ireland, in addition to the work in this short week of concentration, will help the Rioja coach to dispel any doubts he may have. facing their chosen ones to fight to go far in Germany.
For now, they have traveled to Badajoz with a smaller group of 23 players since Dani Carvajal, Nacho Fernández and Joselu Mato will join later after playing in the Champions League final last Saturday, while Aymeric Laporte, who played the of the Arabian Cup with Al Nassr, he will also have a little more rest. Added to these absences are those of Rodri Hernández and Dani Olmo who have stayed in the Ciudad del Fútbol of Las Rozas (Madrid) to do specific work, as indicated by the national team.
De la Fuente will surely distribute the minutes and efforts in a friendly that is not excessively difficult beyond the heat that there may be despite the hour in the Nuevo Vivero and where the main objective is to regain competitive rhythm and avoid injuries in a section where the legs are already heavily loaded.
While waiting for the possible tests that the coach can make, one of the points of attention could be on the expected return with the ‘Red’ of Pedri González. The Canarian midfielder, due to the plague of injuries, has not played with the triple European champion since December 6, 2022 when Spain was eliminated by Morocco in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar.
The FC Barcelona player should be indisputable and hopes to take advantage of all the minutes that Haro, well aware of his ability, can give him, to earn a place on a list in which two players who could debut with the national team’s shirt will try to be. like Fermín López, who has made the leap from the U-21, and Ayoze Pérez who got his opportunity at 30 years old.
MORATA CAN GAIN CONFIDENCE
In addition, it is likely that there could be a change in the goal and that David Raya could play, while on the left side, Marc Cucurella is emerging as a starter ahead of Alejandro Grimaldo and Pau Cubarsí could have his first start, while the clash will be an opportunity surely for Martín Zubimendi, natural replacement for Rodri Hernández. Captain Álvaro Morata could command the attack and take advantage of the opponent’s weakness to gain confidence in front of goal that seems to have lost somewhat.
And Spain is the clear favorite against the Andorran team, number 164 in the FIFA ranking and which has only been measured once in its history, 20 years ago at the Getafe Coliseum (Madrid) and in preparation then for the 2004 Euro Cup in Portugal, with a clear 4-0 victory.
The 2010 world champion will face a team where its players evolve in ‘unknown’ teams for the vast majority, although here in Spanish football there is goalkeeper Iker Álvarez de Eulate, starter for Villarreal ‘B’ and son of Koldo Álvarez , coach of a team that has not won a match since September 2022, when it beat another modest team in European football like Liechtenstein (0-2) in the Nations League. Since then they have only drawn four of their last 15 games (Latvia, Kosovo, Belarus and South Africa).
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
SPAIN: Raya; Navas, Le Normand, Cubarsí, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Fabián; Torres, Pedri, Oyarzabal; and Morata.
ANDORRA: Alvarez; San Nicolás, Llovera, M.Vales, Olivera, Cervos; Rebes, Vieira, E. Vales, M. García; and R. Fernández
–REFEREE: Gustavo Correia (POR).
–STADIUM: Nuevo Vivero de Badajoz.
–TIME: 9:30 p.m./1st.