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Jesús Navas: "Sacrifice is rewarded"

The Spain international called for the same commitment from the players that his career with Spain embodies: "You have to die for every moment here: for your national team, for your country and to make so many people happy".
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Sat, 13/07/2024 - 23:58

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT COACH LUIS DE LA FUENTE HAD TO SAY AT THE PRE-SPAIN-ENGLAND PRESS CONFERENCE

 

After fifteen years in the Spain shirt, five finals in five major tournaments and three titles, Jesús Navas gave a press conference on Saturday ahead of what could be his last game with the national team and he did so by reaffirming the values that have served him so well in Spanish colours over the years: "I think my career has gone well: you have to die for every moment here: for your national team, for your country and to make so many people happy".

The Seville player had words of thanks and praise for teammates of the stature of captain Álvaro Morata and the young Lamine Yamal, comparing the current group of players with the one that won the World Cup and the European Championships, in the sense that "the union is very noticeable, being a team and that is something similar to the national team of years ago".

Regarding the final against England, he said: "We know how difficult the match will be and we are aware of England's individual strengths. We are eager and excited because we are having a very good tournament. Winning a title is difficult and to do so we must focus on ourselves".

He will turn 39 in November, a month before he plans to retire from football for good, and so he spoke to journalists about his physical condition, explaining that "I've had pain in my hip for five years and I'm grateful to my family, my wife and my children for their support. Until the last day I'm going to give everything and I'm at the full disposal of the coach, even if I'm in a lot of pain after every game".

But beyond personal circumstances, Navas has stated categorically that "sacrifice is rewarded and I hope that tomorrow we can achieve it because the group deserves it".

The attitude, for the national team right-back, will not change because "we are thinking the same way as we did in the previous game, with the same desire, humility and ambition. We have to go all out because we know what's at stake and the importance of the match. It would be unique to be able to achieve it", he said, sharing the sentiment held by all Spanish fans.

 

 

 

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