MATCH REPORT | Spain sitting pretty as top spot secured (1-2)

More than a hundred years ago, Spain began their dazzling adventure against Denmark, and this Friday the teams met again and teamed up to pay tribute to the victims of the recent floods, before going out to give it their all for their countries.

An emotional minute's silence with a banner in support of the Spanish people served as a fraternal prologue to an excellent football match out on the Parken Copenhagen pitch.

Once again, Luis de la Fuente was forced to make changes to his starting eleven, but for the umpteenth time, the consistency of style and commitment of the international players meant that the changes were barely noticeable in the game.

With Denmark pressing hard from the outset, Spain had to withstand the Vikings' onslaught by covering both flanks adeptly and using quick combination play to relieve the home side's intense pressure and make breaks of their own.

Gradually, though, the national team began to regain their usual dominance, thanks to the colossal work of Zubimendi winning back the ball, the mastery of Merino in midfield and the creative play of Dani Olmo in and around the danger areas.

Added to this was the omnipresence of Ayoze up front, who had already created several dangerous chances before the first ten minutes were over.

The product of Tenerife then hit a post and his efforts then culminated in Oyarzabal beating Schmeichel with a low shot on the quarter-hour mark.

Denmark had won ten and drawn one of their previous home matches.

The goal spurred the Danes on and they came close to equalising before the break when a shot saw Martín Zubimendi deflect just wide.

The second half continued in the same vein, with the national team dominating possession and striking again through Olmo's work between the lines and Ayoze's powerful left-footed strike after a powerful driving run into space in the 58th minute.

At 2-0, the game seemed to be heading towards a potentially more comfortable encounter for the away side, but Brian Reimer still had one bullet left in the chamber on his bench in the form of Gustav Isaksen, who was to become a real danger man on the left flank for the home side.

The Lazio man first shot against the post, then intercepted a poor pass meant for David Raya to score, keeping the Danish dream of an equaliser alive until the Spanish goalkeeper made an absolutely spectacular save from his team-mate Kasper Dolberg late in stoppage time.

It was the end of a hard-fought run of ten wins and one draw at home for the Nordic team, on a night when Catalan Marc Casadó made his senior debut and the solidarity between the nations truly blossomed in the Danish autumn.

This Saturday, the nation’s favourite team will travel to Tenerife to conclude this unforgettable 2024 with a final match against Switzerland on Monday, playing for and on behalf of those in Spain who are fighting the battle of their lives when it comes to the reconstruction their livelihoods, something we are all invited to participate in