The Spanish squad faces a pivotal week as it pursues a place in the 2024 European Championship. Spain meets Scotland in Seville and Norway in Oslo this Thursday, then closes the qualification campaign at home against their direct rivals. Finishing first or second in the group earns a direct ticket to Germany.
Relating to
Spain holds second place in Group A while Scotland leads with 15 points and Norway sits third with 7 points. La Roja has one game in hand on the leaders. Qualification could be secured with two victories, and there will be a November window featuring matches against Cyprus (Nicosia) and Georgia (Valladolid) to finalize the campaign.
Bryan Zaragoza and Ansu Fati join Luis de la Fuente’s Praetorian Guard
The squad was set to assemble this Monday in La Rozas with 25 players, one more than initially planned. Lamine Yamal did not attend at noon due to medical tests in Barcelona, complicating the schedule a bit.
Ansu Fati appeared as the principal understudy when Yeremi Pino was unavailable, reflecting the coach’s trust in experienced finishers after strong performances in recent competitions.
Ansu images from Las Rozas Football City show the moment he joined the squad wearing the team’s jersey, a sign of the evolving attack in the build-up to the Euros.
Lamine’s absence added to Yeremi Pino’s absence. De la Fuente chose Ansu Fati as the first substitute when Yeremi was injured. Fati has yet to fully establish himself at his new club, but his recent form and positive attitude in the UEFA Nations League justified his promotion to higher responsibilities.
Bryan Effect
Granada–Barça reshaped the plans on Sunday as Lamine Yamal picked up a knock. De la Fuente called in Bryan Zaragoza as a precaution, a move that paid off with a dazzling double and a standout assist against the Blaugranas.
Bryan was not on the original 49-player preliminary list, but the roster is not binding; it serves as a heads-up for clubs about potential selections. Several players could miss out during the international window.
✨ Moments like these rarely disappoint.
@oihan_15 and Bryan Zaragoza posed with the squad’s jersey for the first time in a SEFutbol session. #VamosSpain | #EURO2024
(Source: Federation announcements and match reports, attributed for context.)
De la Fuente has assembled a squad with ample goal threat and dynamic attacking power. The approach reflects lessons from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with a method that blends balanced forwards and creative play. The selection carries multiple nuances, balancing experimentation with proven performers.
More targets than competitors
The attacking quartet leading the line has delivered 27 goals this season. Morata has 10 (5 in the league, 2 in the Champions League, 3 with the national team), Ferran Torres 6 (3 league, 1 Champions League, 2 with the national team), Joselu 6 (5 league, 1 with the national team), and Oyarzabal 5 (4 league, 1 Champions League). This group stands out in productivity against the other contenders in the region.
Scotland’s threat is spread, with eight goals from four players—Che Adams, Jacob Brown, Ryan Christie, Lyndon Dykes—and Kevin Nisbet adding two. In reality, Scotland’s primary danger often comes from midfield, with McTominay scoring six. The two sides met in the European qualifiers, with Spain and Scotland trading goals on the final day of the cycle.
Norway relies on Haaland, who has faced a scoring drought in recent matches. Sorloth (Villarreal) and Larsen (Celta) offer additional firepower, yielding five and three goals respectively, while others contribute in bursts. Overall, Spanish attackers carry a substantial edge in total goals this season.
Imbalance
Spain’s wide play carries significant dribbling threat. The most productive dribbles from wingers in La Liga are concentrated with Bryan Zaragoza (56), followed by Nico Williams (34) and Lamine Yamal (20). Lamine’s current fitness challenges reduce the team’s pace down the flanks.
In these attacking initiatives, 59 crosses were converted: Bryan 28, Nico 16, Lamine 15. The evolving form of Bryan Zaragoza shows the value of versatility, moving from a peripheral role to meaningful minutes. The recent window saw Yéremi Pino and Ferran Torres stepping in when needed, adding even more depth to the forward line.
De la Fuente continues to push an offensive plan built on firepower, creativity, and collective energy.