Luis de la Fuente says Spain needn’t have the ball to do injury after beating Croatia 3-0 at Euro 2024 however shedding the possession battle for the primary time in 136 aggressive video games.
Spain had solely 47% possession in opposition to Croatia, however first-half targets from Álvaro Morata, Fabián Ruiz and Dani Carvajal ensured they kicked off the event with a win on the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Saturday.
It’s important to return to the Euro 2008 remaining, which Spain received in opposition to Germany, to search out the final time La Roja’s opponents had extra possession than them in an official match.
“Possibly in different instances, having extra of the ball assured higher outcomes,” Spain coach De la Fuente mentioned within the postgame information convention.
“Now, we’re a group that may shock opponents like we did immediately. We’re happy; I believe we did effectively. We used the ball with numerous sense and had been scientific within the remaining third. It exhibits that you do not have to have a lot of the ball should you’re a group like us, with tempo.”
It alerts a change in Spain’s possession-heavy fashion, with De la Fuente’s shift approaching the again of the emergence of wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal.
Yamal, who turned the youngest participant to ever play within the Euros at 16 years and 338 days outdated in opposition to Croatia, arrange the third objective for Carvajal with a superb cross.
Ruiz had earlier arrange the opener for Morata earlier than scoring the second himself after beating two Croatian defenders on the sting of the field.
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“I’m very happy, however all of the credit score goes to the gamers,” De la Fuente added. “They learn the sport effectively and managed the totally different phases magnificently.
“We will nonetheless enhance, however I’m happy with the gamers immediately. It is a pleasure to work with them; they make the job straightforward. They’re insatiable and do not settle.
“However we’ve our ft on the bottom, and when tonight passes we are going to take into consideration Italy. It is a lengthy event and it is solely simply began.”
De la Fuente performed down the accidents picked up by Morata and Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri, suggesting each might be match for Thursday’s second Group B sport in opposition to Italy in Gelsenkirchen.
“It’s nothing severe,” he mentioned. “Morata had a blow on the calf, and Rodri was simply fatigue. He had put loads in [to the game] and requested for the change. We need to handle the gamers as a lot as we are able to.”
After Italy, Spain shut the group section in opposition to Albania in Dusseldorf on June 24.