(Madrid) In the midst of a crisis, Spanish football, driven by its young talents who brought La Roja its first title after more than ten years of scarcity, wants to get its head above water by getting closer to qualifying for the ‘Euro-2024.
For its first gathering since the Nations League victory over Croatia on penalties last June, the Roja of Luis de La Fuente, who succeeded Luis Enrique after the World Cup in Qatar, is under pressure.
Spain is currently fourth in Group A of the Euro 2024 qualifiers, after a 2-0 defeat against Scotland, surprising leader with four victories in four matches. They must win against Georgia and Cyprus (September 8 and 12) to catch up with the Scots and ensure they are in the top two of the group in November.
But La Roja is above all entangled in the scandal of the forced kiss of its now suspended president, Luis Rubiales, to world champion Jenni Hermoso, for which the Spanish N.10 filed a complaint on Thursday.
Coach Luis De la Fuente, whom members of the Spanish government were calling for to resign, asked for “forgiveness” on Friday for having applauded Rubiales’ violent speech justifying a “consensual little kiss” and castigating the trial of “false feminism” .
The former Athletic Bilbao player pleads “a human error” and asks to be judged “on his results”, before these two crucial meetings for the rest of the qualifying campaign.
On Monday, his players ended up denouncing the “unacceptable behavior” of Luis Rubiales towards Jennifer Hermoso in a joint press release read to the press by Alvaro Morata, 15 days after the facts.
Through the voice of Real Madrid defender, Dani Carvajal, one of the captains of the selection, the Spanish internationals say they now want to “focus on the athlete” and start another victorious cycle by relying on their new golden generation.
On the pitch, no more Busquets, Jordi Alba or Sergio Ramos. The leader is Rodri, the hub of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, even if the captain remains Alvaro Morata, criticized for his clumsiness in front of goal, but always present on the attacking front.
He will be accompanied by the neo-Parisian Marco Asensio and the young talents of Barça, Gavi, already an indisputable starter for club and national team at 19 years old, and the sensation from the start of the season in La Liga: Lamine Yamal, 16 years old.
The prodigy took advantage of the departure of Ousmane Dembélé to Paris and the suspension of Raphinha to establish himself on the right, and become the youngest player in Barça history to start a championship match.
If he comes on against Georgia or Cyprus, Yamal will also beat Gavi’s precocity record, who became the youngest player in La Roja history at 17.
“Lamine Yamal is a fantastic boy. It’s a pleasure to see young people with such ease, we see that he has exceptional qualities, “summed up Atlético Madrid defender César Azpilicueta, who is returning to the national team. “When I started, he wasn’t even born!” »
“He’s a player with exceptional potential,” said Luis De la Fuente, also under the spell. “Everyone saw it: this divine, different touch on the ball… It’s great. […] I believe he is ready to be competitive at the highest level and in the selection.”
In addition to Gavi and Yamal, on whom all the cameras will be focused, the Spanish coach is counting on his young talents Alejandro Balde (FC Barcelona, 19 years old), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao, 21 years old), Alex Baena (Villarreal, 22 years old) or Abel Ruiz (Braga, 23) to launch this new era.
“The advice I can give them? Take advantage of this opportunity to the fullest, because football moves very quickly,” said experienced César Azpilicueta, 34, who wants to teach his young teammates “how to handle pressure, frustration and expectations.”
The match against the formidable Georgia of the Neapolitan phenomenon Kvaratskhelia in Tbilisi “is a final” according to “Azpi”, not in the victorious group in the League of Nations and still in search of a first title with La Roja.
The one against Cyprus, which has not won in official competition for more than a year, should conversely be a formality.
