Santi Denia’s pupils face a still new Scotland in Group B
MADRID, 10 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish soccer team will face the Scotland team this Monday (9:00 p.m.) in the qualifying phase for the next men’s under-21 Euro Cup, which will be held in the summer of 2025 in Slovakia, with the Spanish objective of confirming their good start in Group B.
Santi Denia’s pupils beat Malta on September 8, with a 0-6 scoreline led by Gabri Veiga at the Tony Bezzina Stadium in the Maltese municipality of Paola. The former RC Celta midfielder, who scored two goals, was one of the ‘veterans’ in a new group that promises to battle at the Victoria Stadium (Jaén) during their second match.
Even without the culés Pablo Páez Gavira, ‘Gavi’ (19 years old), and Lamine Yamal (16 years old), the under-21 team maintains a high level of quality. Despite everything, it is still too early to gauge the intensity of a team that on its way to the Euro 2025 is defending the silver medal obtained in the previous edition.
Their final phase took place this summer, with a bitter outcome after losing the final (1-0) against England, including a penalty missed by Abel Ruiz in the very long stoppage time. But two months later, that generation has already handed over to another, in which the aforementioned Gabri Veiga is called to lead.
Pablo Barrios also stands out at his side, settled in the center of the Atlético de Madrid field and grabbing stripes for Santi Denia who in this under-21 team has under his command, among others, the pivot Nico González and the striker Samu Omorodion.
Neither of them played against Malta at the Tony Bezzina Stadium, so they aim to be in the game against the Scottish team, as a sign of the versatility that Santi Denia wants to instill in each call-up. In the case of Scotland, they have not yet entered the fray for this qualifying phase, so it will be a demanding debut.
Defender Leon King leads coach Scot Gemmill’s plans from behind. His team will want to be boosted in Jaén by the return of right winger Ben Doak, left back Josh Doig and right back Max Johnston, who missed the previous call-up in June.
Playmaker Alex Lowry also returns, while goalkeeper Jude Smith and attacking midfielder Archie Meekison will have the option of debuting with the under-21s in 2023. However, there are notable absences such as Tommy Conway, Lewis Fiorini and Calvin Ramsay , all off Gemmill’s roster due to injury.
DATASHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
SPAIN: Cuñat; Martínez, Francés, Marín, Bueno; Nico G., Barrios, Veiga; D. López, Omorodion and Azón.
ESCOCIA: Newman; Johnston, King, Neilson, Doig; Abdulai, Barron, Cameron; Doak, Mebude y Bowie.
— ÁRBITRO: Thorvaldur Arnason (ISL).
–STADIUM: Victoria Stadium (Jaén).
–TIME: 9:00 p.m./Teledeporte.