Spain Set to Win Convincingly to Dispel World Cup Doubts
Spain Set to Win Convincingly to Dispel World Cup Doubts
An injured Spain will aim to get their World Cup challenge firmly back on track when they face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday.
Newera News learnt that the Spain coach, Luis de la Fuente, said his players had been stung by the criticism after they were held to a goalless draw in their opening match against Cape Verde, the African archipelago of just over half a million people making their World Cup debut.
The European champions arrived in North America as one of the favourite teams to watch. However, with Lamine Yamal only able to appear as a second-half substitute on his return from injury, La Roja were unable to find the target against Cape Verde.
De la Fuente, who confidently described his squad as the best in the world before the tournament, said they would show their true colours on Sunday.
“This generation of footballers is highly competitive and really fired up… It’s going to be a completely different story,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday.
“There is no drama or crisis. The bottom line is simply that we need to win tomorrow.”
Speculation about Yamal’s fitness has dominated Spain’s camp. The 18-year-old winger is still not ready to complete a full game, but De la Fuente is under pressure to play him from the start.
“The most important thing is that he’s back,” he said.
Saudi Arabia also drew their opening game 1-1 with Uruguay.
Mum in the stands
Cape Verde, the team that frustrated Spain, will play “without fear” when they face Uruguay in Miami on Sunday, coach Pedro Leitao Brito, known as “Bubista”, said.
“We didn’t come just to take part. We want to play all the matches and to be able to show that we have the level to take on the best teams in the world,” he added
“We aim to play all the games with courage, in an organised way but also without fear.”
Vozinha, the 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper who held Spain at bay with a remarkable performance, will be watched by his mother on Sunday after she arrived in Miami on a US visa.
