MATCH REPORT | Spain smiles at a bright future (3-2)

There will be a day when we will look back with nostalgia on this 2024, the sporting climax of which was enjoyable for Spain in Tenerife. We will miss everything that this group of players, with Luis de la Fuente at the helm, have served us up to enjoy. The time will come to regret the joys of the past, but this Monday is not that day.

Because on 18 November, on the pitch in Tenerife, we were treated to a grandiose and supportive end to a sporting fiesta with the national team making the Heliodoro Rodríguez López pulsate as they went on to win in the last breaths of the match.

Against Switzerland, the coach changed the entire team from the one that won in Copenhagen three days earlier. The names were changed again, but nothing more, the style and quality go on.

A dazzling start, brimming with speed and verticality precipitated a whole buffet of chances in front of the Swiss goal, which miraculously remained unbeaten until an intervention by captain Álvaro Morata led to the first of the evening's penalties just past the half-hour mark.

In a demonstration of his sporting greatness and at the request of the Chicharrero crowd, Morata gave the ball to Pedri to take the spot-kick. The player from Tegueste's shot was met by the hands of Mvogo before a succession of rebounded shots were finished off by Yeremy Pino's thunderous volley, finally becoming the first Canary Islands player to score a goal for Spain on these magical Isles.

Aitor Paredes, Samu Aghehowa and Pablo Barrios made their debuts, the latter two contributing to an electric second half that turned into an emotional roller coaster.

First with Joël Monteiro's spectacular move down the right flank that led to the Swiss equaliser, before Bryan Gil responded on the inside left with a booming finish to put Spain back in front.

The national team will find out on Friday whether Croatia, Italy or the Netherlands will be their UEFA Nations League quarter-final opponents.

Murat Yakin's side did not give up, taking advantage of a late penalty to get back into the tie through Andi Zeqiri, before Bryan Zaragoza's brilliant finish from the spot in extra time sparked euphoria in Tenerife.

The Malaga-born striker burst off on a talented slalom down the right and was brought down for a penalty, which the Osasuna player took charge of executing with masterly skill.

A 3-2 final score and complete joy to end a year with what is a historic record of fourteen victories, a European Championships and qualification for the quarter-finals of a UEFA Nations League with Croatia, Italy or the Netherlands awaiting a place in next Friday's draw for the play-offs in March 2025.

Next year is one that looks to be full of hope for an exceptional Spanish national team whose every step seems to show that the best is yet to come.