CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT CAPTAIN RODRIGO HERNÁNDEZ HAD TO SAY AHEAD OF SPAIN VS CROATIA
"It's the most important challenge I've had so far, but among all the words to describe it I would underline the word excitement". This is how Luis de la Fuente summed up his feelings on the eve of Spain's massive EURO opener in Berlin on Saturday.
🗣️ Luis de la Fuente, seleccionador nacional: "Rodrigo mandó un mensaje de solidaridad, de cohesión, de equipo y de trabajo conjunto".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2024
➡️ "Tenemos un gran talento individual, mucha calidad, pero es aún mejor si esas cualidades se aplican al equipo".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/2k11Fsc2Ty
The press room at the Olympic Stadium was the setting for the Spain coach's meeting with the press on Friday, less than 24 hours before the opening match against Croatia, and he is well aware that "representing Spain, which for me is the best country in the world, and all its fans is a great responsibility".
🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "Representar a España es una gran responsabilidad. Representamos a todos los aficionados que están siguiendo a nuestra @SEFutbol".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2024
➡️ "Esta #EURO2024 es el mayor reto de mi carrera. Queremos disfrutar esta preciosa competición".#VamosEspaña pic.twitter.com/0LPc8RRz2V
The coach from Rioja commented on the fitness of Aymeric Laporte and Dani Olmo, explaining that, in the case of the centre-back, they prefer not to take any risks for the match against the Balkan side, while as far as the attacking midfielder is concerned, everything will depend on a late decision because he is in perfect shape.
🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "Mañana jugamos ante una potencia mundial y no será nada fácil. Hay mucha igualdad. Tendremos que estar a un nivel altísimo y muy acertados para ganar".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2024
➡️ "Estoy convencido de que tenemos un gran potencial tanto individual como colectivo".#VamosEspaña pic.twitter.com/3yrba4wxXx
De la Fuente sees Croatia as "a world power that will not be easy to beat. We are two evenly-matched teams. We will have to be at a very high level and very accurate in our play to come out on top".
🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "El presidente vino a darnos calma, apoyo y tranquilidad con esa cercanía que siempre ha demostrado con nosotros".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2024
➡️ "Él lleva mucho tiempo en el fútbol y confía en los profesionales que formamos la expedición".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/KsTSUVJSlt
"A great competition is starting and we want to enjoy it," continued the coach, for whom his team have the inner-belief, saying "internally we know that we are a great team and that we can compete at the very top. We have to be very good, at a very high level and very accurate in our play. We have the level to live up to expectations".
🗣️ Luis de la Fuente: "Nico y Lamine son jugadores muy jóvenes, pero con un talento que solo tienen los elegidos".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2024
➡️ "Tratamos de darle normalidad a su juventud y ofrecerles apoyo siempre. Son futbolistas especiales y diferentes".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/gLklwRisH0
The presence of thousands of Spanish fans in Germany this Saturday is great news in the opinion of the coach, who also thanked the president of the RFEF for his support, saying that Pedro Rocha "came to give us his support and to reassure us. He has been in football for a long time and knows that we are going to give our all to achieve a great result.
The final goal is not so important for Luis de la Fuente, who has highlighted being level-headed and balanced as the keys to the tournament that Spain goes into with a great squad of players from whom "it's very difficult to choose a line-up", as the coach from Haro confessed.