Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, acknowledged the challenges faced against the Netherlands and set a clear goal for victory in the upcoming return match.

The encounter between the Netherlands and Spain was a thrilling showdown in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, ultimately ending in a satisfying draw for both teams.

After the match, Luis de la Fuente admitted the difficulties of facing the “Orange Tornado” and praised the team’s performance as a whole.

He stated, “It was a tough match, and we achieved this result through a lot of effort. The opponent is very strong, and we faced numerous challenges. The team started and ended the match impressively, but the Netherlands gradually took control of the game.”

The goal conceded just 50 seconds into the second half was indeed a shock. Nevertheless, the team played with higher spirit and determination, ultimately achieving a deserving result. Now, we understand that winning at home in Valencia is a must.”

This result extended La Roja’s unbeaten streak across all competitions to 17 matches, comprising 14 victories and three draws. This marks their best performance since September 2018, when they went 27 matches unbeaten, with 18 wins and nine draws.

However, the Euro 2024 champions have yet to secure a win against the Netherlands in their last four encounters (two losses and two draws), highlighting the potential challenges ahead in the return match in Valencia.

As for Fuente, the 63-year-old coach brought some good news to Spanish fans, revealing that defender Pau Cubarsi’s injury is not serious, although his availability for the next match remains uncertain.

He added, “Cubarsi’s injury is to his ankle. We hope he can recover before Sunday, and we will monitor the situation closely. While it doesn’t seem too serious, we need to be cautious with the return match approaching.”

In the previous match, the visitors started strong with Nico Williams scoring the opening goal in the 9th minute. However, Cody Gakpo equalized 20 minutes later, before Tijjani Reijnders put the hosts ahead. The turning point came in the 81st minute when Jorrel Hato received a red card, leaving the Netherlands with ten players. Taking advantage of the extra man, Spain equalized dramatically in the third minute of stoppage time with a goal from Mikel Merino, resulting in a 2-2 draw.

The two teams will face each other again in the return match scheduled for March 24.