The beginning of the road to the 2024 Euro Cup for Spain is also the starting point of Luis de la Fuente (Haro, 1961) as the new captain of the red ship. The national team receives Norway this Saturday in Malaga in what will mean the debut of the coach from La Rioja on the senior bench. A path littered with success has accompanied him since in 2013 he became part of the coaching staff of the lower categories of the Spanish Federation, with continental titles and Olympic medals already in his trophy cabinet. A decade later the great opportunity has come for him, that of directing the senior team, and assuming the complicated relief of Luis Enrique's stage, who left his position through the back door after a turbulent goodbye at the World Cup in Qatar. "It is not something that generates special stress for me, I take everything calmly, as I have always done," he confessed yesterday in the bowels of La Rosaleda.
Although in the next national team break in June the final four of the Nations League emerges as De la Fuente's first major challenge, getting off to a good start on the road to qualifying for the next Euro Cup is presumed essential for the new coach to be able to work with tranquility in these first steps, always complex, of an unpredictable journey adventure. "Starting off well guarantees peace of mind in life in general and in football in particular," he admitted.
Spain did not have a particularly demanding draw to be able to be in Germany next year, with Norway (this Saturday in Malaga) and Scotland (on Tuesday in Glasgow) as their first rivals. The presence of Haaland in the green from Malaga was a huge touchstone for De la Fuente's debut, but the last-minute injury to the best scorer in the world today paves the way a bit against a Viking rival who remains with Odegaard and Sorloth as big threats. "If I said I wanted to see him play against us, I would be lying," he joked.
There are many unknowns that the new coach must begin to clear up in the duel against the Norwegians, although in his first week of work with his footballers he has already left clues about his script, which does not represent any sharp turn from the one he has been using the recent years with the sub-21. The non-negotiable 4-3-3 of the Luis Enrique stage seems to give way to a drawing very similar to the popular 4-2-3-1. "I have never liked being hostage to any system, we are clear that we want the ball to attack, attack and attack," he claimed.
What raises more questions is the choice of footballers by the coach. And the match against Norway, his debut, should begin to solve them, discovering some of his cards about who is going to show off stripes in this new stage. The coach did not want to reveal anything about his decision, although he assured that it was quite clear: "I want the players to maintain the tension until the end."
Kepa, in goal, and Ceballos, as the brain in midfield, seem like safe bets to take advantage of a new opportunity with the national team. But the one who takes the floor is Luis de la Fuente. And the first listener of him is Norway. Spain is in your hands.
