Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente says that his side must remain focused after opening their Euro 2024 campaign with a 3-0 win over Croatia.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has said that his side must remain focused after opening their European Championship campaign with an impressive win over Croatia.
Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal were on the scoresheet in Berlin, as Spain recorded a 3-0 victory over Croatia in the opening fixture in Group B.
De la Fuente hailed his side for their performance but also explained the importance of remaining focused, with the team now switching their attention to their second match at the tournament against Italy.
“I am very happy for everyone who has worked so hard to get to this point. This group are ambitious and it is a huge family, so I’m delighted for everyone,” UEFA’s official website quotes De la Fuente as saying.
“But we must keep our feet on the ground. We’ve started well, which gives us a bit of security, but now we need to think about Italy.
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Spain prove to be too strong for Croatia
“My family and friends were in the stands and I transmitted my emotions at the end of the match. We played a very complete game. I’m very content with how we performed in all areas of the pitch. For such a young team to keep such concentration throughout was particularly pleasing.”
Meanwhile, Ruiz added: “The most important thing is that we won. The assist was important, but so was the goal. I thought the team did really well. We did what we wanted to and worked very hard for it. We achieved everything we wanted as a team, which is important.
“We knew what a tough rival we had to face, which makes us all the happier for how we played and the result we earned. We’re already aware that in a tournament like the EURO, goals scored and goal difference count, so that’s another big source of satisfaction.”
Ruiz also hailed Lamine Yamal for his contribution, branding the teenager, who became the youngest-ever player at a European Championship on Saturday, “a wonderful player”.
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Morata, Ruiz, Carvajal scored the goal for Spain
Another of Spain’s goalscorers Carvajal was also keen to pay tribute to the national team’s supporters for their role in the success.
“We really heard our fans today, we felt them very close to us. So many people travelled to Berlin to get behind us. That makes us so, so happy. We’re a unit, we are a family.”
Morata and Rodri were both substituted in the second period of the contest due to minor injuries, but neither player is a doubt for the team’s next fixture.
Spain, who are three-time winners of the European Championship, will take on Italy in their second match at the competition on June 20 before finishing their group-stage campaign against Albania on June 24.
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