DÜSSELDORF, Germany: An early Ferran Torres strike gave Spain’s second-string side a 1-0 win over Albania on Monday as the three-time champions finished the Euro 2024 group stage with a perfect record and the defeat eliminated their opponents.
Barcelona winger Torres finished off a fine move in the 13th minute in Duesseldorf to puncture the atmosphere in a stadium filled with a majority of noisy Albanian fans.
However, this game was not a cruise for a Spain team showing 10 changes to the side which started their 1-0 win over Italy four days earlier.
Spain had already secured top spot in Group B, but Albania knew they realistically needed a win to go through and that made for a frantic encounter at times, particularly as they pushed forward in the second half.
Despite their best efforts, Albania go home after picking up only one point and finishing bottom of a difficult section.
It is a regression for them from their debut European Championship appearance in 2016, when they also went out in the first round but did manage to win a game.
Beating a Spain side who have probably been the most impressive so far in Germany was always going to be a big ask for Albania, coached by former Barcelona left-back Sylvinho.
It is the first time since 2008 that Spain have won all three group games at either a World Cup or European Championship.
Coach Luis de la Fuente can now turn his full attentions to a last-16 tie in Cologne on Sunday against an as-yet unknown third-place finisher.
Center-half Aymeric Laporte was the only Spain player to keep his place following the Italy game, with key midfielder Rodri suspended and everyone else given a breather.
Goalkeeper David Raya, defender Dani Vivian, left-back Alejandro Grimaldo and midfielder Martin Zubimendi, all largely untested at international level, came in.
There was also a start for Jesus Navas, who was part of the Spain teams that won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, and who is now 38.
Even Laporte was removed at half-time, replaced by Robin Le Normand, while Lamine Yamal and Alvaro Morata also appeared in the second half.
Albania, ranked 66th in the world, knew it would be a big ask to beat Spain having lost all of their eight previous meetings.
Spain first threatened in the 12th minute when Mikel Merino’s header was saved by goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, and a minute later they were ahead.
Dani Olmo stepped into the space between the Albanian lines to receive a pass, and then fed a measured ball in behind for Torres to latch onto.
The former Manchester City player timed his run perfectly and finished with precision too, his first-time effort going in off the far post.
Torres has made a habit of scoring at these tournaments, having netted twice at the last Euros and twice at the 2022 World Cup.
It took Albania until the final minute of the half to test Raya, the Arsenal shot-stopper flying to his right to parry a powerful strike by Kristjan Asllani.
Joselu hooked a Grimaldo cross just wide moments after the restart for Spain, before the Albanian fans raised the noise levels as they became aware of events in the other match.
They were very close to equalising when substitute Armando Broja met an Asllani free-kick and tried to lob Raya, but the goalkeeper saved.
Asllani then fizzed an effort just wide, and Broja was again denied by Raya in stoppage time as Albania bowed out.
Spain complete perfect Euro 2024 group stage as Albania go out
https://arab.news/nd46m
Spain complete perfect Euro 2024 group stage as Albania go out
- It is the first time since 2008 that Spain have won all three group games at either a World Cup or European Championship
Real Madrid crash out of Copa del Rey at Albacete on Arbeloa debut
- Albacete frustrated Madrid after the break and then burst into life in attack to take the lead once more
MADRID: Real Madrid fell to a shock 3-2 defeat in the Copa del Rey last 16 on Wednesday as Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut as coach ended in humiliation by second-tier opposition.
Appointed on Monday to replace Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa and his side were ousted by Jefte Betancor’s stoppage-time winner at the Carlos Belmonte stadium.
Without French superstar Kylian Mbappe and various other key players, Arbeloa’s side struggled against a side currently 17th in Spain’s second division.
Albacete took the lead through Javi Villar but Franco Mastantuono equalized just before half-time.
Jefte put the hosts back ahead after 82 minutes and then scored the winner after Gonzalo Garcia’s 91st-minute goal looked to have forced extra time for the 15-time European champions.
“Here at this club a draw is already bad — it’s a tragedy. Imagine a defeat like this, it’s painful,” Arbeloa told reporters.
“I’m sure all our fans feel the same way. Even more so when it happens against a team from a lower division, although we already know here how tough any opponent can be.
“If anyone is responsible and to blame for this outcome, it’s clearly me, the one who made the decisions regarding the line-up, how we wanted to play, the substitutions.
“I can only thank the players for the way they welcomed me, for the effort they put in today.”
After Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday against rivals Barcelona, president Florentino Perez replaced Alonso with reserve team coach Arbeloa.
The Spaniard selected two players currently playing in the reserves he led until Monday — holding midfielder Jorge Cestero and right-back David Jimenez.
As well as Mbappe he left out players including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Jude Bellingham, to rest ahead of the return to La Liga action on Saturday against Levante.
“I’d do the same again, I brought a team capable of winning,” said Arbeloa.
The first half was mostly played under heavy gloom, not just Madrid’s mood but an intense fog which set in a few minutes into the game.
Vinicius Junior smashed high and wide from long range as neither side produced any clear chances until shortly before half-time when the hosts took a shock lead.
Villar escaped Mastantuono’s attentions at a corner and nodded Albacete in front after 42 minutes.
Arbeloa’s side levelled before the break through, also capitalizing on a corner, with Mastantuono turning home from close range.
Jefte’s double
Albacete frustrated Madrid after the break and then burst into life in attack to take the lead once more.
Andriy Lunin pushed away an effort from Riki but shortly afterwards Jefte put Alberto Gonzalez’s side ahead.
Gonzalo Garcia’s clearance fell to the striker in the box and he fired down into the ground with ball bouncing up and flashing past Lunin.
Madrid’s young forward made amends by pulling his team level in stoppage time with a well-placed header.
However there was a sting in the tale as Jefte produced a sensational lofted finish past Lunin to snatch a famous late victory for Albacete, their first ever against Real Madrid.
“I’m not afraid of failure, I can understand that someone would want to call this defeat that,” added Arbeloa.
“Failure is on the path to success, for me they are not in opposite directions.”
Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, who came on as a substitute and could not stop Jefte’s winner, said the players would work hard to revert the club’s slump.
“We’re not at our best moment, we have to work hard, we all have to give a lot more, it’s a reality,” Carvajal told reporters.
“We ask for forgiveness for the fans. We were not up to the level of this club, me first of all, and we will give our lives in the next games and months (to turn it around).”
Elsewhere Real Betis beat Elche 2-1 and Alaves defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals.
Holders Barcelona visit second division leaders Racing Santander on Thursday.
