With a 1-0 victory over Albania on Monday thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres, Spain demonstrated their qualification for the Euro 2024 championship. This makes it three victories out of three for the Spanish squad in Group B.
Coach Luis de la Fuente of Spain made 10 changes to the starting lineup from the team that defeated Italy, the reigning champions, knowing that his team would advance to the round of 16 as group winners.
As the tournament draws to a close, a number of players, most notably man-of-the-match Torres, who scored a brilliant goal in the 13th minute to seal the victory, gave De La Fuente something to think about.
Albania’s aspirations of making their first trip to the knockout stages were dashed, while Spain replicated their 2008 achievement of winning every group match en route to the championship.
They received one point and placed last in the group.
After salvaging a thrilling 1-1 draw with Croatia, who finished in third place with two points, Spain led the group with nine points, followed by Italy in second place with four.
Due to Albania’s loss, France, the Netherlands, and England advanced to the next round before to their last group game.
De La Fuente showed off his players from the team, keeping only centre back Aymeric Laporte.
As kickoff drew near on a steamy summer’s evening along the Rhine, thousands of Albanian supporters, many of them dressed in red and black, may have sensed an opportunity to make history by creating a fever pitch environment.
But while the red flares were still obscuring the surface, Spain gave a striking demonstration of their squad’s depth.
After a rest for 16-year-old Lamine Yamal on the right wing, Torres scored with his left foot off the post to divide the Albanian defence.
Despite Albania’s great energy, they were unable to provide their supporters with anything throughout the opening period as Spain, sporting a second strip of pastel yellow, controlled the tempo of the game.
It required forty-five minutes for Albania to make David Raya save, but it was a good one—the Arsenal custodian leaped to his left to block a well-struck attempt by Kristjan Asllani.
At the beginning of the second half, Sauntering Spain picked up the pace momentarily as Joselu displayed incredible agility to hook a volley from Alejandro Grimaldo‘s cross over the bar.
When Armando Broja came off the bench at the hour mark, Albania raised their voices once again. He nearly had an immediate effect, trying to lift a shot over Raya, but the goalie reached out with his left arm to claw it away.
Spain let off the gas, but Albania managed to finish strongly and barely made a dent.
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