Spain’s Under-21 Coach Julen Lopetegui believes that UEFA can guarantee the safety of players and staff in Israel this summer.
La Rojita will travel out to the country for the European Under-21 Championship to be held June 5-18. Israel have been involved in recent weeks in violent clashes with Palestine forces.
A bus explosion last week forced the rearrangement of Athletic Bilbao’s Europa League match in the country, whilst Lopetegui’s attendance this week in Israel for the Under-21 tournament draw only came with a security accompaniment.
However, the Coach holds hopes about the tournament going ahead in Israel.
“UEFA guarantees the security of the tournament,” he told reporters today.
“One hopes that the problems do not spill over and that the situation is under control.
“But, I want to talk about football, for the Euros will be complicated and one of the few advantages we have is being seeded in the draw.”
The draw will take place on Wednesday evening at 6pm CET, at the Hilton hotel in Tel Aviv, with the eight qualified teams being placed into two groups of four.
Israel as hosts are seeded and placed automatically into Group A, whilst Spain as the highest ranked team – and competition holders – are also seeded and take the first spot in Group B.
England and Netherlands are second seeds, meaning La Rojita will face one of these teams, whilst they will also be drawn against two from the unseeded pot containing Italy, Germany, Russia and Norway.
The top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals.
