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Jesús Navas: “There’s a lot to play for, for ourselves, for our fans and for our country."

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The European championship winner underlines the importance of the match against Albania and recalls his successes achieved with the national team: "The current atmosphere is very similar to the years when we won the World Cup and the European Championship

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT COACH LUIS DE LA FUENTE HAD TO SAY BEFORE THE ALBANIA-SPAIN GAME

Twelve years after the last European Championship won by Spain, the figure of Jesús Navas has acquired a special relevance as a member of the national team that won the Triple Crown between continental tournaments and the 2010 World Cup, in which the right-sided player had an absolute leading role.

This Sunday, the veteran full-back has sought to compare that period with the current one, pointing out that "the key was the good group that existed both on and off the pitch. The current atmosphere is very similar to that of those years".

Beyond that similarity, the Andalusian player warned that on Monday Spain will let up at all in their match against Albania despite having already qualified for the Last 16: "We have a lot to play for, for ourselves, for our fans and for our country", said Navas, who said of the opponents "I'm not surprised by Albania's level. They work very closely together and we will have to be focused, because winning a match at the European Championships is the ultimate aim".

At 38 years of age, the Sevilla player stresses the importance of the role he can play as a senior member of the squad in a tournament of this nature: "I contribute as much as I can. I hope I can get a few minutes tomorrow. The younger players see how the more experienced players work and that's something to be valued. Being here is the best. We're a family and that's what will pay off in the end with us getting the prize.

On the tournament in general, Navas affirms that "Spain are one of the best teams at this European Championships", but he emphasises humility as the best way of working, because "there are many difficult opponents and on a bad day you can be knocked out".

Veteran in terms of the calendar only, the player from Los Palacios y Villafranca does not set himself long-term challenges, because "I enjoy my daily life in football, which is the most important thing. We'll think about what's next, now we're getting a lot of people excited," he concludes with his usual positivity.