A very happy birthday

The 26-player squad for the European Championship sang happy birthday together in honour of Luis de la Fuente Castillo, the national team coach who blew out his candles to celebrate his 63rd birthday on Friday.

The birthday cake enjoyed after the national team's dinner in Donaueschingen was the culmination of a day of happiness that had began the night before with Spain's qualification for the last 16 of the European Championships and continued during the team’s afternoon training session.

The best wishes and gestures of affection for the coach from players followed one after the other in Germany, to which Luis de la Fuente responded by celebrating the team spirit that he instils in all the members of the team on a daily basis.

"We want this to go far beyond being a group of colleagues and friends," said Luis de la Fuente during the group dinner, "and in my experience I have had to experience many celebrations like this outside my home, so we want this to be a real family. I feel this space and this company like my family and I would love for all of us to feel that way. I am proud to be having this moment with all of you," he concluded to the applause of the players and coaching staff in Germany.