Santi Denia, the Under-21 coach, addressed the media at a press conference after Spain beat Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the European Championship in the category.
Approach: “It was planned that the man would be squeezed. Sometimes you have to play more direct and try to create danger with the speed of Sergio and Rodri. It is not the approach that we like the most but it is also an option. What we like is controlling the ball”.
Template: “We have been reinforcing the idea of competitiveness. They always come out plugged in and in complicated situations. In the last seven editions and we have reached six semifinals. The generation is a reflection of the quality that exists in Spanish football. We have a game idea.
Sergio Gomez, about Abel: We understand each other very well. Miranda he and I have been together for a long time. I’m very happy with the goal after missing the first chance. The goal was a hard stick, but the coach’s talk was important and we encouraged each other at the break in extra time. We knew we had to take one more step because they were going to do it too. The changes have been spectacular, they have helped us a lot.
Arnau Tenas: “The goal was too late”
Match analysis: “It has been a very tough game, we have played against a great rival. We knew the level of Switzerland, but we have tried to counteract its positive points. We started spectacularly from the beginning, applying good pressure. We have been able to overcome them and insisting and competing has left us a good result. Yes, it is true that the goal was very late. A small mismatch in defense, but in the end that’s what happens with these big rivals. We had a match of p… mother, we have competed very well and we have been able to take the victory”.
Extension: “We have played with the result. When we had it in our favor we had control of the game. They had to go looking for an equalizer and we have known how to play the game very well. We have defended like animals and it has given us victory”.
Semifinals: “It’s very difficult, every game in this European Championship is a final, both in the group stage and in the qualifiers. It has been the most difficult game so far, but at this level the football that everyone plays is spectacular”.
Possible opponent: “I don’t care, it is true that it all depends on us, and we will go out to win against any rival”.
Penalties: “I haven’t thought about them, I tried to go from moment to moment, I was confident that the team would score a goal and that’s how it has been”.
Barcelona: “I am in the European, when I finish I will make a decision. Today I am a free player”.
Opponent pressure: “The pressure they did was man to man, they played it and it showed. In the end, the one who had to give the upper hand was me. With the help of the comrades and the movements we have been able to find a solution. We knew it, we had analyzed it and it was one of the possibilities”.