βFrighteningβ Spain have 100% record, 25 players firing β and Lamine Yamal
Luis de la Fuente is excited by his squadβs variety and says his 16-year-old forward was βtouched by Godβs wandβ
Luis de la Fuente is losing sleep and itβs only getting worse, yet it isnβt panic, it is preparation. Spain have known for five days where and when they are going to play their last-16 tie β Cologne on Sunday night β but not who they are going to play against, only that it will be someone who finished third in Group A, D, E or F. By the time they find out, a week will have passed since they secured their passage. When they reached the dressing room in DΓΌsseldorf after their final group game, 11 teams could still be their next opponents; the reward for excellence is uncertainty.
βIf weβve only slept two, three hours a night so far, weβre going to have to go a few with almost no sleep at all because weβll have to study more opponents and be ready for anything until we know for sure,β Spainβs coach said. βIt will be Wednesday night before we do but thereβs no other choice. In any case, weβll be prepared, mentally ready to try to go through.β
Continue reading...Β© Photograph: Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
Β© Photograph: Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock