Julen Lopetegui focused on Spain’s team effort to reach the UEFA Under-21 Championship Final and believes there are shades of 2011 present.
La Rojita can now look ahead to a second successive competition final, this Tuesday against Italy, having defeated Norway in Saturday evening’s semi-final 3-0.
“It was a very difficult game against a very good team, even if it did finish 3-0,” reflected Lopetegui post-match to UEFA.
“We had a lot of chances to score in the first half but their ‘keeper was very good and made several great saves, yet we managed to make it 1-0 by half-time.
“The team played very well and although we played with a bit more safety after the first goal, we finished it with the second.
“In the final it will be very difficult – hopefully we can score earlier then. It is all about the team, not individuals. The team worked as one unit.”
Spain are defending the title this summer, having won it in 2011, and Lopetegui admits that so far, the team is looking in similarly good shape.
“We feel the team plays the same way as the one that won in 2011, but only a couple of the players are the same so we are happy with the current crop.
“We are going to prepare, relax a bit, practise a lot and be as ready as possible for the final.
“I know Norway well and they have a lot of heart, but also have quality. Physically, tactically, they are one of the strongest teams in this tournament – they had an extra day of preparation and in the second half they played well. They have good players.”
