Spain should not lose their lead if they want to overcome the Netherlands in the Nations League, says Luis de la Fuente.
La Roja expanded their undefeated run to 22 competitive matches when Mikel Merino saved a 2-2 draw in the first stage of their quarterfinals of the Nations League against the Netherlands on Thursday.
The Euro 2024 champions will now want to complete the track on the home floor on Sunday and keep their longest unbeaten run in competitive competitions since a series of 29 between June 2010 and June 2013 alive.
De la Fuente, however, emphasized that after seeing a five-game extraction streak broke, his team should not lose their clinical lead.
“The problem with winning is that you get used to it and it's hard [if you] Loss your lead, “he said.
“We want to continue in this dynamic, knowing that the challenges are more difficult every day. The rivals know you more and more every day and they are very good.
“[This fixture] Could very well be the final of the European Championship. This is very difficult and difficult every day.
“We want to remain able to win and we are. We will do everything we can to keep winning.”
22 – Excluding friendly competitions, Spain are unbeaten in their last 22 games in all competitions (W19 D3), their best run without a defeat in competitive competitions since a run of 29 between June 2010 and June 2013 (W24 D5). To trust. pic.twitter.com/atstgkx4il
– Optajose (@Optajose) March 22, 2025
De La Fuente, however, thinks that Spain will only improve because he has to fight.
“This is a group of exceptional football players, but we also attach special interest to values,” he said. “I always say that you need good people to manage a dressing room.
“Suffering and the ability to overcome it is something that this team has. I don't know this sport without suffering.”
While the winner of Sunday's meeting will continue to the semi -final, they will also go to a more difficult World Cup qualifying group, including Turkiye, Georgia and Bulgaria.
However, the loser of this draw discusses the World Cup qualifying group G and is confronted with Finland, Malta, Poland and Lithuania.
Although that would theoretically present a simpler path to next year's tournament, Dutch boss Ronald Koeman insisted that his team is focusing on Nations League Glory.
“It's true that the group with five teams might be a bit more favorable,” said Koeman.
“It is not something that we have discussed with the players, or something we take into account during the game.
“We definitely want to reach the semi -final of the Nations League. It's a trophy. That's what we go for.”
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