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Euro 2020: Enrique urges Spain to go for early goal against Slovakia

EURO 2020: GROUP E
SLOVAKIA SPAIN

Spain coach Luis Enrique says he expects Slovakia to sit deep and defend in their crunch Group E game today (June 23) and urged his side to look to score as soon as possible to ensure they qualify for the Euro 2020 knockout stage.

Spain were unable to break down an ultra-defensive Sweden in a goalless draw in their opening game and although Poland showed more ambition and pressed them high, they still could only draw 1-1.

The three-time European champions are third in the group and need a win to guarantee their place in the last 16, but Slovakia are second and a draw would be enough to take them through.

 

“They’ll play defensively, without a doubt, a draw will be good enough for them, so I hope we can break the deadlock as soon as possible because it’s going to complicated,” the coach told Spanish television network Cuatro ahead of the game.

“We’re in a good frame of mind and prepared for the game, we know that messing up is a possibility but I hope it doesn’t happen.”

Enrique made only one change to his starting line-up from the first match to the second, bringing in Gerard Moreno for Ferran Torres.

But in the 15 minutes of Tuesday’s training session open to the media, he played a practice game which hinted at a very different approach against Slovakia, with up to six changes.

Spanish media reports said he fielded a team with Cesar Azpilicueta at right-back, Jose Gaya at left-back at the expense of Marcos Llorente and Jordi Alba, with Eric Garcia coming in for Pau Torres in central defence.

Captain Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alcantara, who started neither game, were seen in the midfield alongside Pedri, who has started both, with Pablo Sarabia joining Moreno and Alvaro Morata in attack.

Never one to give the game away, however, Enrique was tight-lipped when asked if he would make changes.

“I might make changes, then again I might not,” he said. “Any of the 24 players in our squad is capable of helping us get our first victory.”  – REUTERS

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