Spain’s men’s team continue their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign as the Luis Rubiales scandal rumbles on by hosting Cyprus in Granada on Tuesday evening.
A potential banana skin was avoided in emphatic fashion as Luis de la Fuenta’s side dismantled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georgia 7-1. Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal became La Roja’s youngest player and goalscorer at 16 years and 57 days after entering the action just before half-time.
Cyprus have lost all four of their Euro 2024 qualifiers and haven’t won a game in little over a year when they beat Israel in November.
Here’s what you need to know about the encounter.
Spain vs Cyprus H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
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Country |
TV channel/live stream |
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United Kingdom |
Viaplay Xtra |
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United States |
Fox Soccer Plus, ViX |
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Canada |
DAZN |
Attack-minded players Marco Asensio and Dani Olmo have both withdrawn from Spain‘s squad citing injuries. Barcelona forward Ferran Torres and Villarreal winger Yeremi Pino have been called up as cover and joined Luis de la Fuenta’s squad in Madrid.
Lamine Yamal, who became Spain’s youngest ever player in the thrashing of Georgia, will hope for his first start with Nico Williams on the other flank as the two replacements for Asensio and Olmo in the starting XI.
The team will otherwise be similar to the one that started the 7-1 win on Friday, though Alejandro Balde will be keen to replace Jose Gaya at left-back.
Spain predicted lineup (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Balde; Gavi, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams.
Cyprus are likely to field a similar lineup to that which was easily dismissed by a rampant Scotland last time out with no injuries affecting head coach Temur Ketsbaia’s thinking.
Grigoris Kastanos and Ioannis Pittas, the two strikers likely to start in a 3-5-2 formation, play for Serie A side Salernitana and Allsvenskan outfit AIK respectively.
A lot of the build-up to Spain’s meeting with Georgia was dominated by the squad’s meek response to the crisis involving federation president Rubiales. That fixture was over as a contest thanks to a blitz of goals before half-time and it should be a similarly one-sided affair on Tuesday night.
A Cyprus team did once beat Spain 3-2 in 1998 as the likes of Fernando Hierro, Luis Enrique, Raul and Fernando Morientes experienced something of a national team low, but a repeat scoreline or result is not likely despite the mood around Spanish football being worse right now.
Prediction: Spain 4-0 Cyprus
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