Euro 2024: Spain boss knew England would ‘switch on’

Luis de la Fuente knew England would yet get it correct astatine Euro 2024 and says they will beryllium much of a threat to Spain than France aliases Germany.

Spain person won each six games – nan first to ever do truthful astatine a European Championships – and person beaten 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia, Euro 2020 winners Italy, three-time winners Germany and 2022 World Cup runners-up France connected nan measurement to Sunday’s last astatine Berlin’s Olympiastadion.

By opposition England limped done a group pinch Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia, needed a 95th-minute equaliser to unit extra-time earlier edging past Slovakia, had to trust connected penalties to flooded Switzerland and past struck precocious to snatch triumph against nan Netherlands successful nan last-four.

“Two immense nationalist teams. They are nan 2 best, that’s why we are some successful nan final” 🌟

Spain head Luis de la Fuente thinks Spain and England were nan 2 champion teams successful nan Euro 2024 title ⚔ pic.twitter.com/jiUvJlvGiZ

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 13, 2024

Speaking astatine a media convention connected nan eve of nan showpiece, de la Fuente said: “They are an fantabulous nationalist team.

“Independent of nan results aliases performances truthful acold successful this competition, I knew that England were a very bully side, a very bully squad and that sooner aliases later they’d ‘switch on’.”

The 63-year-old insists his players will not return England lightly arsenic they cognize nan value of their opponents, not slightest Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.

“I believed that (they’d travel good) because of nan exceptional level of their players. So there’s zero complacency aliases over-confidence connected our part.

“In fact, facing England, I think, is simply a wholly different lucifer than immoderate we’ve played truthful far.

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“England are a wholly different force from France aliases Germany, but pinch a superior level of players who’ve won large trophies each complete Europe and played astatine awesome clubs.

“We request to support increasing stronger. Whichever squad manages nan good margins, commits less errors, will beryllium overmuch person to eventual victory.”

Spain person been hailed arsenic nan tournament’s champion broadside and lead nan scoring charts pinch 13 goals to England’s seven, nevertheless de la Fuente wants much from La Roja if they are to go nan first federation to triumph 4 European Championships.

“I’ll show them that they request to play moreover amended than they person successful reaching nan final,” he said. “We request to beryllium ourselves – but moreover better.

“I’ll inquire them to bask themselves. I’ll show them that I’m proud of them, nary matter what nan eventual consequence is. I’ll show them that they’ve been an illustration for our full nation.”