Coach De La Fuente: "Spain cannot be compared with the golden generation of 2008"

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the match against Albania at 2:00 AM on June 25th at the Dusseldorf Arena (Germany), coach De La Fuente said: "We still have a long way to go if we want to catch up with that generation, because they won the European Championship and the World Cup. The whole team has to improve in every position, although saying this still sounds somewhat negative."

We want to win every game and of course I have faith in the 26 players and always want to have the strongest starting lineup. All the players have a chance to play in Euro 2024 and have all performed at a high level."

Spain is showing impressive form at Euro 2024 (Photo: UEFA).

Spain dominated world football with victories in Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012, showcasing a captivating style of play based on ball control. Captain Iker Casillas, along with Sergio Ramos, Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, David Silva, Fernando Torres, and Cesc Fabregas, were among those who won all three prestigious titles.

However, in subsequent tournaments, as many stars left the national team and the ball-possession style of play became outdated, Spanish football no longer achieved success. At Euro 2024, Spain impressed with wins against Croatia 3-0 and Italy 1-0, and they were considered a top contender for the championship.

Nevertheless, coach De La Fuente remained cautious: "Many teams at Euro 2024 haven't shown their full strength yet. I don't think we've seen the true quality of many opponents."

Some teams haven't yet reached their full potential. The upcoming Round of 16 promises to be fierce and leave no room for error. That's when we'll see the true strength of each team."

For his part, Albania's coach Sylvinho praised Spain: "I don't think there's a difference in quality between Spain's starting lineup and their reserves. Even their second-string team could reach the Euro 2024 final and be a strong contender for the title."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/hlv-de-la-fuente-tay-ban-nha-chua-the-so-sanh-voi-the-he-vang-nam-2008-20240624194502623.htm