One week after his first anniversary as Spain's senior coach (on December 8, 2022, he was appointed Luis Enrique's successor), Luis de la Fuente will not be able to say that he has received a good gift in the Euro 2024 draw, held this Saturday in Nyon (Switzerland). Italy, Croatia and Albania will be the three rivals of the red team in group B, "one of the most difficult in the Euro Cup", according to the coach.
“Yes, this is surely the most difficult group or one of the most difficult in the Euro Cup; It is not a cliché to say that we have great teams here, and all the games are going to be complicated. The three rivals are going to require us to apply ourselves with the best of our conditions and offer the best image that we have to offer,” said the Rioja coach at the RTVE microphone.
De la Fuente considers, however, that “we must continue improving, this is the path: there are seven months left, but we must continue growing. We are optimistic, we have the growth and potential of this team and the players, who in my opinion are the best players in the world,” he praised his team.
Croatia, Italy and Albania, in this hierarchical order, are Spain's three rivals. De la Fuente expressed his respect. “Let's not forget Albania, which came first in the group ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland," he recalled.
“Italy is a team that no one would want to face, regardless of the results of their last season. "It's a great team, with a new coach (Luciano Spalletti)," he said of the transalpines.
"And Croatia is a rival that we know well from the Nations League, they have spectacular results and have great footballers."
“Surely there will be some news and some last-minute additions; Gavi's injury hurts us, these circumstances can occur, but the good news is that there are good players who can replace him. We are calm, we have a wide relationship of footballers with extremely high talent,” De la Fuente commented on the certain loss of the Blaugrana midfielder, due to a serious long-term injury (ligament tear affecting the meniscus of the right knee).
The still sports director of the Spanish Federation, Albert Luque, issued his assessment of the group, also through RTVE: “Difficult group, with rivals that are a reference. I'm looking forward to the first match. We need a lot of concentration from the beginning,” said the former Terrassa footballer.
“Without a doubt, it is a group of death. We won the Nations League against Croatia on penalties, whoever is better is going to win the match. The second match is against Italy, the current champion. “Either we are involved or we will be in for a surprise,” warned the Federation executive, who expressed his confidence in the players: “This group deserves all the trust in the world.”
Sylvinho, Albania's miracle coach (he has qualified it for the second time in history for the final phase of the Euro Cup), expressed himself in a very respectful manner. “We are happy, we know that it is a strong, difficult group. "It's a very difficult competition, it's 30 days, you have to concentrate all your strength on the first match," commented the former Brazilian Barça footballer.
"I see Spain doing well, as always, like Italy. It will be an important, difficult match, I have work for the next six months," said Sylvinho.
