‘Hungry for glory’: Spanish newspapers throw their support behind La Roja and insist ‘we dream’ ahead of crunch Euro 2020 quarter-final tie against Switzerland… as Luis Enrique says his team have been the best at the tournament so far
An impressive Spain are edging ever closer to yet another European Championship final – and the country’s newspapers have thrown their support behind them ahead of their clash with Switzerland.
Having knocked out 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia in stunning fashion on Monday, Spain now turn their attentions to what may prove to be a tricky quarter-final tie against the team who eliminated France.
The weight of the occasion has been reflected in some of Friday’s headlines, with Marca insisting ‘we dream’ and AS describing La Roja as being ‘hungry for glory’.
Spain’s newspapers have said ‘we dream’ ahead of Spain’s crunch clash against Switzerland
There is no doubting that Spain has rallied to roar their players on, and Marca’s front page was simple, but striking.
They highlight that Luis Enrique believes ‘no team has played better’ than his own, and also reveal Jordi Alba is set to earn a recall after being dropped for the last tie.
AS, meanwhile, have put prominence on Alvaro Morata, who has been splashed across their editions holding the famous red jersey and roaring into a camera.
La Roja beat Croatia 5-3 to set up their quarter-final tie and will now be targeting the trophy
Morata has endured a difficult tournament, having missed a host of glorious chances and received sickening abuse – which also targeted his family – from supporters.
But the 28-year-old crashed home a superb effort against Croatia to help send Spain through, and the striker’s redemption has seen him used to build up excitement.
The ‘hungry for glory’ tagline points towards their failure to lift a trophy since 2012 – although the publication have also said that the last two times Spain reached the semi-finals, they won the competition.
Barcelona-based Mundo Deportivo have opted for a slightly more humorous and laidback approach to the showdown.
‘To the semi-finals!’ is the headline on Mundo Deportivo’s edition, featuring boss Luis Enrique
Their headline is ‘to the semi-finals!’ and accompanies a picture of boss Enrique whizzing around, adorned in his full suit, on an electric scooter.
They insist that the match can be used to build momentum for next year’s World Cup, and are another outlet to have printed Enrique’s latest bullish comments.
As for Sport, they have also said that Spain are dreaming ahead of the crunch clash, with a record fourth Euros trophy now in sight.
Ahead of tonight’s game, Enrique was questioned whether there are any teams who have impressed more than his so far this summer, and he replied ‘no’.
Enrique has boldly declared his Spain team to be the best at the tournament so far this summer
‘The numbers [given by] the GPS [system during training] are impressive. [The issue] is much more emotional than physical,’ Enrique added.
‘If we are mentally well, we are doing well on the physical [aspect]. We are impressive. I don’t know if there will be changes. All 24 can play.’
The winner of that tie will take on either Belgium or Italy in the first semi-final at Wembley on July 6.