Sealed a win against Norway, the Spain of Luis de la Fuente has football pending. It is already known that goals are not always godsons of the game. They were not before the Norwegians, and the Red now sees itself in another scenario. In the mythical Hampden Park against Scotland (20.45, La1), a team without much nursery and with gusty stages, but with an almost unique tradition and which never lacks its tartan army.
“Of course we have to improve,” De la Fuente stressed on Monday, convinced that he manages a “top” group. At such a level, according to the coach from La Rioja, that not even Joselu and Ceballos, the ones who played the rattle in the final stretch against the Norwegians, have a fixed place in Glasgow. Regarding the striker: “There are players who can be decisive at certain times and Joselu understands it perfectly.” On Ceballos: “We have the utmost confidence in each other and I know that he will never fail me.”
De la Fuente does not feel “hostage to any system”, so no one rules out that he will change the scoreboard according to the context of each match. And, as he already did in the under-21s, he is usually in favor of exchanging the actors when there are two games in a row. Will you maintain that trend in the absolute? “If I have done well, why change?”
A hot spot awaits Spain. The soundtrack of the Scots is not anything. In addition, in Glasgow they are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Scottish federation, which together with the English federation catalyzed the first international match in history, a duel that refers to November 30, 1872.
Their league downgraded to the infinite challenge between Celtic and Rangers, Scotland is aiming for the Premier, where it has its best recruits. These are no longer the days of Johnstone, Law, Bremmer, Dalglish, Souness, McCoist, Strachan, Gemmil… Today there are no footballers of that relevance among the group selected by Steve Clarke, who was a renowned Chelsea defender, with whom he won the 1998 Cup Winners’ Cup with Vialli as coach-player for the Londoners against Stuttgart, then managed by Joachim Löw. His coaching career has been limited to West Bromwich, Reading and Kilmarnock before being chosen to lead Scotland in 2019. Robertson (Liverpool), McTominay (Manchester United) and McGinn (Aston Villa) stand out in Clarke’s team. Che Adams (Southampton), his reference striker, was injured after the victory against Cyprus (3-0) last Saturday. With this basket, Scotland, a team with a lot of sleeves rolled up, will measure that Spain that is looking for another Spain with De la Fuente.
You can follow EL PAÍS Sports on Facebook y Twitterpoint here to receive our weekly newsletter.
Subscribe to continue reading
Read without limits
