Meta rewrite of Spain euro qualifier piece

It is only the second day of the Eurocup qualifying group, yet the match Spain will play in Hampden Park carries a special scent. A win would place the team alone at the top of the five team group, with two days already yielding six points and the reasonable expectation of another six from the next two fixtures. September will bring encounters with Spain, Georgia, and Cyprus.

Relating to

• Seven stories to better understand Hampden Park, the world’s oldest international stadium

• Gavi is looking for his place in new Spain

Winning in Glasgow would represent a major step forward for Euro 2024. It could also eliminate Norway and Scotland, the most formidable rivals in the group, within a span of four days.

reinforced selectors

The British squad also began its journey toward Germany 2024 with a victory, taking down Cyprus. The Hampden showdown will be a test between the two group leaders. Both teams arrive with strengthened selections: De la Fuente started on a strong footing, and Scotland’s manager, Steve Clarke, extended his contract through 2026.

Spain arrives in Scotland buoyed by their result against Norway, but the performance in Malaga showed moments of inconsistency. The team combined flashes of excellent football with troubling defensive lapses. The match began with high intensity and finished with opportunities created, yet it invited persistent pressure from the Norwegian side. Had Haaland featured, the Spanish defense would have faced real test.

De la Fuente is tasked with improving the defense and ensuring continuity. He will decide whether to maintain the same approach or make changes when the match against Norway starts, hoping to revive players from the bench when necessary. Some players, notably Ceballos and Joselu, pressed for starting roles.

Some tweaks in the starting 11

Adjustments are expected in the lineup. De la Fuente appears cautious about sweeping changes at the back, though defensive solidity remains a concern. Pedro Porro could be favored to replace Dani Carvajal if space allows. Balde, who displayed exceptional physical capacity in Malaga, might yield his spot to Gayà as the national team lines up again after a frustrating World Cup stint.

In central areas, Rodri seems to have secured a clear position, and Mikel Merino also found the net at La Rosaleda, though Fabián might push for a chance. In attack, Ceballos could step in for Aspe or Dani Olmo. Gavi will continue to captain the side, and his willingness to stand up to pressure has been widely noted. Despite being the youngest member of the squad, his bravery and character are widely praised in matches of this magnitude.

There were concessions that the squad’s leadership had discussions with the Barcelona midfielder to urge restraint, though the coach emphasized that Gavi should be trusted above other options. The message was clear when he was asked to remain composed while still taking the game to opponents.

On offense, De la Fuente has a large pool to draw from, but Morata is expected to start, forming a striking partnership with Joselu who will be prepared to contribute when needed.

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Among those called up by Clarke stands out United midfielder Scott McTominay, who, though not a starter, scored against Cyprus. Unless there is an unexpected twist, he is set to start against Spain. Clarke recently called up Lawrence Shankland to replace the injured striker Ché Adams. The Scottish coach, recently renewed until 2026, stressed that the team must play with patience and precision to secure victory.

Clarke pledged that patience would be the key to conquering Spain and earning a favorable result in a challenging away fixture.