Spain will aim to finish this round of qualifying fixtures with a win and close the gap on leaders Scotland as they take on Cyprus.
Spain have much work to do before they confirm their presence in next summer’s Euro 2024 in Germany, starting with the game against Cyprus. They had a faltering start to this qualifying campaign, as they trail leaders Scotland by an astonishing nine points. Luis de la Fuente’s men may have two games in hand over the Scots, but they must win them all to cement their place.
Scotland’s relentless form makes Spain only second favourites in Group A. While the gap with the leaders is still large, they must stay mindful of the one with Norway just behind them. A win would help them advance to second place, but a disappointing result could pressure their automatic qualification home.
Going by their most recent result, a catastrophic end to this international round seems unlikely. La Roja thrashed Georgia by seven goals and had some historical moments with two of their young players.
Barcelona’s raw gem, Lamine Yamal, became the youngest player to represent Spain and their youngest goalscorer. Meanwhile, Nico Williams became their second youngest player to score and assist in the same game since Cesc Fabregas in 2008.
1 – Against Georgia 🇬🇪, aged 21 years and 58 days, Nico Williams became the youngest Spain 🇪🇸 player to both score and assist in the same game after coming off the bench in all competitions since Cesc Fàbregas against Russia 🇷🇺 at Euro 2008 (21 years and 37 days). Fast. pic.twitter.com/zi1KlNnZNV
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 9, 2023
Spain’s task ahead is to get a win over bottom-placed Cyprus. The European minnows are staring at yet another qualification round where they will not qualify for a major finals, something they have never done in their history.
The only positive over the years has been their ability to win seven games throughout their last two qualification campaign. However, this time around, they sit at the bottom of the pile after suffering defeats in all four of their games.
Last week, Scotland beat them 3-0 and cemented their place at the top of Group A. Cyprus will hope for a good performance against Spain, although going by the form their hosts are in, their manager Temus Ketsbaia will hope the Spanish side are not in a mood to score plenty again.
Team News & Tactics
Spain
Luis de la Fuente does have a few fitness concerns but may not worry too much ahead of the clash with Cyprus. Two starters against Georgia, Marco Asensio and Dani Olmo, have pulled out through injury and will be replaced by Ferran Torres and Yeremy Pino in the Spanish squad.
🛫 Granada… ¡¡AQUÍ ESTAMOOOOS!!
🏨 Los internacionales españoles ya están alojados en el hotel de concentración.
Turno de comida y descanso antes del entrenamiento oficial de esta tarde en casa del @GranadaCF.#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/WghXzBgJp9
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) September 11, 2023
The manager may leave large parts of his lineup unchanged. But the withdrawals of key attackers will force him to make alterations. The level of the opposition may play into his ideas, as there are chances of handing Yamal his full debut after his record-breaking cameo the last time around.
Williams could join him on the other flank. But hat-trick hero and captain Alvaro Morata will lead the line. French-born central defensive duo Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte could continue their central defensive partnership, while Alejandro Balde could replace Jose Gaya at left-back.
Rodri will continue to sit at the base of this Spanish midfield, with Gavi and Fabian Ruiz on either side. This lineup could change ahead of kick-off if the manager feels the need to rest a few of his players and allow others to take the field against an opponent Spain are more or less guaranteed victory.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Balde; Gavi, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams
Cyprus
Ketsbaia will likely make a few alterations from the loss against Scotland and has no fresh fitness concerns with his players. The Cyprus boss will retain the 3-5-2 shape and is unlikely change his defensive personnel at the back.
Andreas Karo, Konstantinos Laifis and Valentin Roberge will marshall the backline and support goalkeeper Joel Mall. The left wing-back slot will remain with Anderson Correia, while Minas Antoniou will start on the right flank. Ketsbaia could make a key change at the base of his midfield, with Michalis Ioannou replacing Ioannis Kousoulos.
He will have Charalambos Kyriakou and Charalampos Charalampous on either side of central midfield. Ketsbaia will make another change up front, with Ioannis Pittas replacing Pieros Sotiriou and partnering with Grigoris Kastanos.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Mall; Karo, Laifis, Roberge; Antoniou, Kyriakou, Ioannou, Charalampous, Correia; Pittas, Kastanos
Key Stats
- Spain have won their last three competitive games.
- Spain are nine points behind Group A leaders Scotland in the standings with two games in hand.
- Lamine Yamal became Spain’s youngest-ever player and goalscorer at the game against Georgia.
- Cyprus have lost each of their four Group A games in this qualifying campaign.
- Cyprus have never qualified for the finals of a major tournament in their history.
Player to Watch
Lamine Yamal
Youngest players to represent Spain:
◉ Lamine Yamal (16 years and 57 days old)
◎ Gavi (17 years and 62 days old)The record has been broken by over a year. 😱 pic.twitter.com/QxvrmocJ5P
— Squawka (@Squawka) September 8, 2023
It has been a terrific few weeks for the teenager, who has made a mark at Barcelona and the Spanish national team. He has already been touted as a generational talent for the impact he has had in a short span. But if he starts against Cyprus, the teenager should take the opportunity with both hands.
He has enough inspirations beside him, with Gavi and Pedri the clear examples of how to succeed at such great levels at a young age. For his age, Yamal has shown enough maturity to suggest he can make the cut. But games like the ones against Cyprus will allow him to show his character and flair. More importantly, Spanish fans will want to see more of this rising star and want him to start.
Prediction
Spain 4-0 Cyprus
The visitors come into this clash in disastrous form and are expected to face a tough task against Spain. The home side are back to their free-scoring form and will flex their muscles against the European minnows to build confidence.
Spain are young and have a lot of hungry players eager to stamp their authority with the right mix of experience. Hence, the 4-0 prediction may seem an understatement, as La Roja can score more than that without conceding against Cyprus.
