Spain’s national football team is set to experience a new era under the leadership of their newly appointed coach, Luis de la Fuente. The former coach of Spain’s Under-21 team was surprised and delighted to be promoted to this role after Spain’s World Cup exit in 2022. Despite limited experience as a senior coach, De la Fuente is expected to bring a refreshing change in terms of personality and experience compared to previous coach Luis Enrique.
De la Fuente’s coaching career and philosophy
De la Fuente started his coaching career with youth coaching at local Basque clubs before joining the Spanish federation’s staff to coach the under-19 and under-21 teams. He won two European Championships and developed many players who are now part of the senior team. De la Fuente values team spirit and involves players’ families in the success of his squads. His coaching philosophy aligns with the federation’s philosophy of developing both players and a central philosophy for all national teams.
De la Fuente’s first senior squad
De la Fuente’s first senior Spain squad shows a mix of returning and new players, with some interesting omissions like Sergio Ramos and Marco Asensio. The decision not to call up Ramos has received media attention and criticism. However, De la Fuente defended his decision saying that it was tactical based on his philosophy of opening the team up to the people.
New era for Spain’s national football team
The new era under De la Fuente is characterized by a more relaxed atmosphere and collective responsibility. The squad lacks star players in contrast to previous incarnations, but it is packed full of talented young players who have been developed by De la Fuente himself. The coach aims to open up the team to the people by having them attend training sessions and follow the players’ development.
Spain suffers a disappointing defeat against Scotland
Despite the initial optimism for the new era under De la Fuente, Spain suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Scotland in their Euro qualifier. The team’s performance was disjointed and wayward, resulting in their first loss in a Euro qualifier since 2014. De la Fuente made eight changes from the side that beat Norway, including not relying on veteran players like Sergio Ramos and Sergio Busquets who retired from international duty.
Spain lacked leadership, and their performance worsened as the game went on. Only one player in the starting lineup belonged to Real Madrid, while none were from Barcelona, in contrast to the 2010 World Cup-winning team where only one player did not play for either of those two clubs. Despite the defeat, midfielder Rodri expressed confidence in De la Fuente and the new setup but acknowledged the need for improvement.
Gavi being a valuable player for Spain’s National Team
One bright spot for Spain’s national football team is young midfielder Gavi. The Barcelona starlet is a player that any club would want to have on their team but would resent playing against him. He possesses alternative skillsets that make him a rare breed on the field. Gavi is currently playing for the Spanish National Team in Euro qualifiers and is considered to be one of the faces of the team for the next decade.
De la Fuente praised Gavi’s courage and energy as his virtues. He believes that his ideal position and where he feels most comfortable is as an interior midfielder. Gavi’s versatility recently saw him play as a right-winger under Xavi, highlighting his ability to adapt quickly to different positions on the pitch.
In conclusion, Spain’s national football team under Luis de la Fuente has experienced both highs and lows. While their initial defeat against Scotland was disappointing, there is still hope for the team with talented young players like Gavi. It remains to be seen if De la Fuente can lead Spain to success on the international stage.
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