Luis Enrique wants Spain to go in honor of Sweden in the last World Cup qualifier
Luis Enrique insisted that Spain will go for the win against Sweden on Sunday, even if a draw would be enough for his team to win Group B and qualify for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Spain reached the top of the group after defeating Greece 1-0 in Athens, and took advantage of the fact that Sweden surprisingly lost 2-0 in Georgia earlier on Thursday.
A penalty in the first half from Pablo Sarabia was enough to secure the victory for La Roja and means that Spain now has fate in their own hands, but Luis Enrique said that they will still go for the three points when they receive Sweden in Sevilla in their last group game.
“On Sunday we will go out to win as we do every match against a very difficult opponent, but one that we know very well,” Spain’s head coach Luis Enrique told reporters.
“I hope the fans become the 12th player for us.”
Luis Enrique was pleased with how his team played in Greece and said he saw improvements from the home team from their first meeting in the group, despite the fact that the reverse game in March ended 1-1.
“Greece has improved a lot since the first match we played in Spain,” he added. “Thanks to the attitude and efforts of my players, we have taken the game forward against a very hard-working team.
“I think we could have played better. We had a first part of control where we neutralized their attack.
“I was happy with the team’s attitude. They have not been caught, which is not easy in these matches.
“The players have done a fantastic job, they have overcome difficulties and are ambitious.
“We have a positive dynamic. There are always things to improve, but that we get support depends on the team’s efforts.”
Luis Enrique allayed fears about Gavi after the teenage midfielder came out in the second half with what appeared to be a facial injury and said he was “feeling good”. The Barcelona star impressed again, completing 100 percent of his 43 passes, including 32 in the opposing half.
Spain’s match against Sweden will be played at the Estadio La Cartuja in Sevilla, and Luis Enrique once again emphasized that he wants the fans to shout his team across the line on Sunday.
“In my time as a player, we qualified for a World Cup against Denmark in Seville. I do not remember a similar match in my career where the fans carried us like that day,” he said, recalling the qualifiers for the 1994 world. Cup against Denmark which Spain won 1-0.
“La Cartuja must bounce.”