The coach of the Spanish national football team, Luis Enrique, said today that in the upcoming match against Japan at the World Cup in Qatar, they are only thinking about winning.
- We are in the group of death. We are currently first in the group, yes, but each of the four teams has a chance to make it (to the round of 16). We have no intention of risking anything – Enrique told reporters.
The players of Japan and Spain will play in the last round of Group E on Thursday at 20:00. A draw is enough for Spain to advance to the round of 16, while Japan needs a win.
Enrique said that among the 26 players he took to the championship, there are also eight attackers, who he says are at an extraordinary physical level.
- They fly, literally. I would like to be able to give minutes to all eight attackers, they deserve them, but there is no room for all of them… Of the 26, there will surely be at least one who will finish the championship without playing a minute – said the Spanish coach.
Speaking about the Japanese team, Enrique reminded them that they played with them last year in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games and that they won that match in the last minutes of overtime.
- They have a lot of players who play in Europe, Germany, and Spain. They are very fast, very dynamic and ‘hard’ in the sense that they don’t leave you time to think and make the right move – he stated.
Enrique pointed out that he likes Japan’s midfield a lot and singled out Takefus Kubo and Takumi Minamino.
- It will be a good test for us. I expect a tough match. I think that we will dominate the game, that we will have possession of the ball, but that it will be an open game – said the coach of Spain.
In the first two rounds, Japan beat Germany (2:1) and lost to Costa Rica (0:1), while in the first match, Spain beat Costa Rica (7:0) and drew with the Germans (1:1).
Source: Beta/Meridian sport
Source: Beta/Meridian sport
Source: Beta/Meridian sport
Source: Beta/Meridian sport
