In the second game, the Spain of Louis of the Source He received a slap from Scotland that left his face disfigured, filling a project that is being born with doubts, complicating his route to Euro 2024 to be held in Germany. A project marked by the gigantic shadow it casts Luis Enrique. The La Rioja coach has tried to get away as soon as possible, but he has not succeeded.
And the fall, without any alibi, in Glasgow leaves the image of a team without identity, victim of “two accidents”, according to the coach himself, alluding to Pedro Porro’s slip at 1-0 and Dani’s rude mistake Carvajal at 2-0. But Spain had no response (a shot on goal in the second half, Rodri’s) or alternative records to get up from the blow received.
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Eight changes in the eleven from Norway to Scotland
In barely four days, De la Fuente launched a revolution. He changed Spain from back to front. He only allowed three survivors (Kepa, the goalkeeper, and Rodri and Mikel Merino, the two midfielders) to stay in the starting eleven. The only ones who played against Norway (3-0). The only ones who repeated with Scotland.
But so much change broke the defensive stability with a totally new defense, which conceded two goals in just 51 minutes. And that massive modification did not help an attack in Glasgow radically different from the one in Malaga.
In 180 minutes, Luis de la Fuente has used 22 players out of the 25 he brought to the camp. Zubimendi, the Real Sociedad midfielder, is the only outfield player who has not played for a minute alongside goalkeepers David Raya and Robert Sánchez.
A fuzzy game idea
“You can always improve, but I don’t move an inch from the idea that I have transmitted to the players,” De la Fuente proclaimed after conceding his first defeat as coach, trying to protect his players with a carefully diplomatic message.
Not a single reproach was launched by the coach, aware, however, that he is looking into unknown territory and, at the same time, dangerous because a torrent of criticism reaches him. Criticism of a diffuse idea of the game. A Spain under Gavi is not the same as a Spain under Ceballos, no matter how much he tries to maintain the tactical suit of 4-2-3-1, away from Luis Enrique’s classic 4-3-3.
In addition, its basic structure (the Rodri-Mikel Merino couple) does not provide stability or solvency to Spain, which received numerous chances, both from Norway, which was left dry due to its lack of aim, and from Scotland, which was successful with the double of McTominay.
The lack of self-criticism
Spain was a tender team, without a job and vulnerable in Glasgow. He tested Luis de la Fuente so much that it took away personality from his fledgling project. “We have done many things well to get another result”, highlighted the coach, who avoided, at all times, an exercise in self-criticism, taking refuge in the “accidents of the game”. The new coach even came to say that his players “had interpreted the idea very well”, sure of his method. “I remain convinced that this is the way.”
The idea was defined on the blackboard, although it was not seen later on the field, hurt, moreover, as the selection was due to the style used by Scotland. “It’s his way of playing and you have to respect it, but for me it’s a bit rubbish,” confessed an irritated Rodri, who captained the team in Glasgow. “Always wasting time, they provoke you, they fall… For me, this is not football”, stressed the Manchester City midfielder, in statements to ‘Viaplay’.
