Spain’s challenges extend beyond the pitch, as they faced difficulties both in their preliminary match and at their hotel in Chattanooga. Following a frustrating 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, coach Luis de la Fuente granted his squad a day to regroup and reset. While some players ventured to Nashville and local malls, Borja Iglesias encountered a humorous mix-up upon returning to the hotel—he was initially denied entry due to a lack of proper identification.
“It happens to me in Spain, so how could it not happen here? I didn’t have the accreditation with me so I have to wait for someone to come and get me. Lamine laughed at me: ‘I love it, they didn’t let you in.’ The good thing is I told a couple of them and they said it had happened to them before too.” Iglesias remarked, reflecting on the experience at Kennesaw State University, where the team was preparing for their next match against Saudi Arabia. “I’m not sure it’s fair to say that the forwards have to ‘improve’, but yes, we need goals,”
Spain now gears up for their crucial game against Saudi Arabia, and the pressure to score is palpable. “We had various chances and didn’t score; other times you only get one chance and you do score. So, be calm. I have seen them train and there’s no problem. They will go in next time, for sure.” Iglesias acknowledged. “If we had scored one, the game would have changed,”
Martín Zubimendi echoed Iglesias’s sentiments, stating that if they had managed to score early on, the dynamics of the match would have shifted significantly. Coach De la Fuente had a straightforward assessment after the match, noting that sometimes the ball simply doesn’t go in, despite Spain registering an impressive 27 shots. Ferran Torres notably struck the crossbar and faced a series of saves from Vozinha, the Cape Verde goalkeeper, who was rightfully named man of the match. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” Rodri commented. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.”
Despite the positive takeaways, the outside perspective was less forgiving. Cape Verde were perceived as an easy opponent, and the unexpected draw raised eyebrows. “Maybe the fact that it was the first game conditioned things,” De la Fuente reflected. Mikel Merino described the aftermath as a period of “The players are stung, and tomorrow will be different for sure,” emphasizing the emotional toll the game took on the players. “The freshness of Lamine and Nico is what it is,” De la Fuente assured.
Yet, he maintained that there were “The good news is that Lamine is back,” about Spain’s approach moving forward. The prevailing view was that the only missing element was converting chances into goals, though not all were convinced. In the initial moments of the game, centre-forward Mikel Oyarzabal failed to register a single touch, while Pedri appeared too advanced, expending energy on defense rather than orchestrating attacks. With Gavi and Torres on the flanks, any width came primarily from the full-backs.
As for Lamine Yamal, his delayed entry into the match sparked significant discussion, highlighting a growing reliance on the young talent. De la Fuente had previously claimed Yamal was in “We would be in a better mood if we had won but today we have taken our run to 32 games unbeaten,” condition, yet his late substitution raised questions. Nico Williams, also returning from injury, had a minimal impact with just nine minutes on the field. “There’s no feeling of pressure, no sense of emergency. Sometimes the criticism motivates you and this is a generation of players that is very competitive. Players see [what’s said].” De la Fuente explained.
“There is a moment when it stops being about tactics. This team has heart and always responds.” he stated. The pressing concern now is how long Yamal can contribute against Saudi Arabia, with De la Fuente hinting that he might prefer to utilize him in the second half, where games are typically won. On the eve of the match, he mentioned potential playtime numbers: “We were sad those first 24 hours but we have turned it around now,”
“I’m surprised because if this midfield has a characteristic quality it’s not exactly that it slows the game down” De la Fuente noted. Six days after the draw, the team’s spirits appear to have lifted, suggesting that initial reactions may have been overly harsh. There’s a renewed determination to prove the critics wrong, and the feeling of being “What am I even supposed to say to that?” resonates with the players. De la Fuente remarked, “It was not a brilliant game but nor was it really bad: there are things we can take from it. We have to come up with improvements, especially that fluidity, that freshness in the final third which I think is going to be the key. I don’t think it’s a physical problem, I think it’s more that touch of precision. The day after wasn’t easy but that shows we care, that we’re pissed off at not winning, and that we feel the need to win. Our confidence has not dropped; we have walked a long path together and we trust each other to turn this around.”
“We were annoyed, which is the way it should be,”
Unity remains a focal point for the squad as they refuse to allow external factors to create divisions. The team has cultivated a close-knit environment, as evidenced by Laporte’s lighthearted comments about playing Fortnite with teammates’ children. Importantly, they remind themselves that they have yet to suffer a loss, with Uruguay’s draw also negating any immediate deficit.
“But it’s also true that we are unbeaten in 32. We have the ambition and the confidence to look to the next game, think positively, and try to win, as we always to. To say: ‘We’re here.’” Zubimendi reflected. He also dismissed claims that Spain’s ball circulation was sluggish, stating, “I’m surprised because if this midfield has a characteristic quality, it’s not exactly that it slows the game down,” and defended Rodri against unexpected criticism, asking, “What am I even supposed to say to that?”
Zubimendi acknowledged that while the previous game was not exemplary, it was not disastrous either. “We have to come up with improvements, especially that fluidity, that freshness in the final third, which I think is going to be the key. I don’t think it’s a physical problem; I think it’s more that touch of precision. The day after wasn’t easy, but that shows we care, that we’re pissed off at not winning, and that we feel the need to win. Our confidence has not dropped; we have walked a long path together and we trust each other to turn this around.”
With renewed focus, they’re determined not to let any obstacles impede their progress. “We were annoyed, which is the way it should be,” Laporte said. “But it’s also true that we are unbeaten in 32. We have the ambition and the confidence to look to the next game, think positively, and try to win, as we always do. To say: ‘We’re here.’”
