Luis de la Fuente‘s time at the head of the Spanish team, which is already approaching its second anniversary, seems destined for a continuous fight against adversity, which until now the Riojan has overcome with a conciliatory tone and brilliance on the pitch. The initial distrust of his CV, the need to train a new generation of footballers and the constant institutional earthquake within the federation have not made a dent in the spirit of the coach, who now faces the umpteenth challenge of his career in the La Roja bench.

In Murcia, where they are playing for the fifth time with three wins and a draw, the European champion not only faces a high-level team like Denmark, leader so far in their Nations League group after two wins in two days, but mainly it is measured against the plague of injuries that has plagued it in recent weeks. With up to six starters in the Euro Cup final against England in the dry dock –Unai Simón, Carvajal, Le Normand, Rodri, Dani Olmo and Nico Williams–, Spain faces a key duel in the fight for access to the knockout phase of a competition in which he defends his crown.

De la Fuente, consolidated to the point of taking out his fang this week due to the strange provisional situation of his contract, derived from the morass in the offices of the City of Football, puts a good face on bad weather. The one from Haro sees this October national team break, surrounded by suspicions about the players’ health, as an excellent opportunity to show off his wardrobe.

Some of the luxury substitutes he has must take a step forward and show that they are prepared to assume responsibility at La Roja. Thus, through the path traced by David Raya, solvent under the sticks in the September window, Zubimendi must travel, more than qualified to replace Rodri as a lighthouse, an elite mission with which he has already fulfilled and with flying colors in the section decisive of the Euro Cup final.

Fabián Ruiz, one of the sensations in Germany, emerges as the San Sebastian escort. The one from Los Palacios is essential with Spain due to his route and ability to shoot, although in Luis Enrique’s PSG, with whom he had his ups and downs when he was coach, he alternates starting positions with substitutions. Ahead is the turn of the reborn Pedri, with that engaging aspect that he shares with the absent and also Barça player Dani Olmo.

The thing about Laporte’s companion in the defense axis is not so clear. Vivian, Cubarsí and Pau Torres oppose the position with the arguments given by the good work in their clubs, although Athletic’s has the stripes of the Euro Cup. Something similar happens on the right side, since with Carvajal having just had surgery, the casting for Pedro Porro and Mingueza opens.

The only good news in terms of injuries is the return of Spain’s captain and number 9, Morata, a pillar for De la Fuente on and off the field of play. The man from Madrid, who is beginning to acquire cruising speed at Milan after a Rossonero debut marked by a muscle injury, has Fernando Torres between his eyebrows as the third top scorer in the history of La Roja, as he is two goals away from the 38 of the Child.

good memories

Denmark brings good memories to Spanish football. Against the Red Dynamite, Butragueño signed a poker game on that unforgettable afternoon in Querétaro, Mexico, where Spain won a big place in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup. Also against the Nordic team, Hierro left a header for history, that got the team into the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Likewise, the Danish team was the rival against which the most glorious Spain laid the first stone of its legend, with that 1-3 victory in Aarhus in a qualifying match for the 2008 Euro Cup, which Luis Aragonés’ team would end up winning in Vienna.

After reaching the semi-final of the Euro Cup in 2021, Denmark has been completely relegated in the last two tournaments, from which it left without a victory. With an interim leader like Lars Knudsen, coach of German Augsburg, the Scandinavian team is going through a transition period although it leads the group with players of the caliber of Kasper Schmeichel, Eriksen and Hojlund.

-Probable alignments:

Spain: Raya, Porro, Vivian, Laporte, Cucurella, Zubimendi, Fabián Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Oyarzabal and Morata.

Denmark: Schmeichel, Bah, Kristensen, Vestergaard, Nelsson, Kristiansen, Hojbjerg, Hjulmand, Eriksen, Poulsen and Hojlund.

Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia).

Stadium: Enrique Roca (Murcia).

Time and TV: 8:45 p.m. The 1.