The Czechs are leaders, after beating Switzerland, and the match is crucial for Luis Enrique’s men, who after drawing at home with Portugal are bound to win.
spain land on Prague with pricked ears, after the defeats of England, France, Croatia and Belgium, and no margin for error after leaving two points in Sevilla when tied with a Portugal that will fight for the place in the Final Four.
those of Luis Enrique are measured at Czech Republicwho is group leader after beating Swiss and that in the last European Championship he already left on the way Netherlands. The Spanish coach does not want trust and has made it clear to his players that “football has changed. There have been no friendlies for three years. And I prefer this. This week we have seen Belgium and France lose. And we know how difficult it is to win in Kosovo or in Georgia”. The Asturian plans a massive rotation in the eleven, giving rest to players who acted against Portugal. Luis Enrique insists that he has 25 starters and no matter how many pieces he changes, the identity of the team is maintained.
“For us, the goalkeeper must generate the first advantage in attack and the striker must be the team’s first defender. There is no match that we haven’t created more chances than the rival. That means we always go out to win. We always have the intention of going for the game, no matter where it is and the rival we have. We are going to press up, to press after losing, to risk… Then we will win or not, but the intention is to be protagonists of the game whether France, Italy or the Czech Republic are ahead, in this case, ”warned the coach.
????️ @LUISENRIQUE21national coach: “We expect a very difficult match. The Czech Republic are promoted from League B, but they have shown that they can beat anyone.”
➡️ “It’s a brave team that defends very well and also plays at home”.#VamosSpain | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/cXtkIX8vjY
– Spanish Soccer Team (@SeFutbol) June 4, 2022
massive turnover
In Spain all players are available, except Thiago, who left the concentration due to a muscle injury. And that includes Ansu Fati, that he could have a few minutes, although he lacks rhythm and Fought he prefers to go little by little with him.
Luis Enrique, who will line up eleven “intelligent players, used to having the ball and with quality”, could bet on Dani Olmo y Ferran Torres at the ends with Thomas Raul pointed, leaving the medullary for Rodri, Koke and Gavi. Back Inigo Martinez, Eric, Marcos Alonso y Carvajal they would be starters, with no news in the goal, no matter how much the coach boasts of “having three starting goalkeepers”. Luis Enrique warned that “football has changed”, and these Nations League matches, which are crossed on the calendar with the season over, are lived in a different climate, more relaxed, in which the footballers have their heads more focused on the holidays.
????️ @ Koke6player of the @sefootbol: “I want to score a goal with the National Team, but at the moment it hasn’t been possible despite playing many games”.
➡️ “If I don’t score a goal and the team wins, I’m also happy”.#VamosSpain | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/MHHFOTneKL
– Spanish Soccer Team (@SeFutbol) June 4, 2022
There is talk of Barça
And in that summer atmosphere, almost on the beach, the group is no stranger to current affairs and discusses in the huddles the situation of Gavi at Barça, where the renewal is far away because the club offers him a promising contract, which is already a reality. Or the salary reduction that Laporta will propose to part of his squad, and there is even talk of whether Raúl de Tomás, who opened the door to leaving Espanyol, may be Simeone’s bet to replace Suárez.
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However, the only certainty is that Spain has no margin for error against a tough rival like the Czech Republic, because they need to correct the setbacks in Seville by adding three points in Prague. Everything that is not winning takes him away from the Final Four.