The reigning champions face three-time winners in Gelsenkirchen\u2019s standout opening-round tie on Thursday
\n GERMANY
\nSpain are hoping the \u201cexceptional\u201d Fabian Ruiz can again be the difference-maker when they look to build on an impressive win against Croatia in their second Euro 2024 outing against Italy on Thursday.
\nThe meeting between the reigning European champions and the three-time winners of the competition in Gelsenkirchen is the standout tie of the opening round at the tournament.
\nTop spot in Group B, and a theoretically easier last-16 draw, is at stake as the two sides aim to build on victories in their opening matches. Italy came from behind to beat Albania, while Ruiz was outstanding as Spain thumped 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia 3-0. Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Ruiz, 28, set up the opener for Alvaro Morata and scored himself with a classy finish as he outshone all those around him, including Croatia captain Luka Modric. That game confirmed the importance to Luis de la Fuente\u2019s Spain team of a player who was not taken to the last World Cup by former coach Luis Enrique. \u201cWhat can I tell you about Fabian Ruiz? He\u2019s an exceptional player, he\u2019s at the top level. If he wasn\u2019t called Fabian you would be talking a lot more about him,\u201d said De la Fuente.
\n\u201cBased on what we\u2019ve seen from him on a daily basis he\u2019s fantastic and has brilliant technique, we know what he brings to the team. \u201cWe should recognise the quality that he has. He has real imagination.\u201d De la Fuente\u2019s relationship with Ruiz goes back to when he was coach of Spain\u2019s Under-21 team \u2014 Ruiz was the star player when they won the Under-21 Euros in 2019.
\nIt was around that time that the former Betis man broke into the full Spain squad, and he featured in Luis Enrique\u2019s team at the last Euros, when they went out to Italy in the semi-finals.
\nYet he was not a starter, and Luis Enrique did not pick him again, meaning he was out in the cold by the time the 2022 World Cup came around.
\nBut Spain\u2019s exit in the last 16 to Morocco led to Luis Enrique departing and De la Fuente taking over, and the new coach quickly recalled Ruiz.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been with him since he was very young and his pathway at club and international level has been incredible,\u201d said De la Fuente.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s the embodiment of the players that have been working hard in the shadows and maybe the media circus is not around him.\u201d
\nIt is true that Rodri, widely considered as the world\u2019s best holding midfielder, gets more attention in the Spain team.
\nBut Ruiz is a supremely gifted player in his prime, and a key part of a side that is now more direct than under Luis Enrique, when their game was primarily centred on controlling possession.
\nIronically Ruiz has flourished this season under Luis Enrique, now his coach at PSG.
\nHe joined PSG from Napoli in 2022 but has only really settled in France since his compatriot became coach last year.
\nRuiz ended the season at PSG by scoring the winner in the French Cup final against Lyon.
\nHe was on target again in Spain\u2019s last pre-Euros friendly against Northern Ireland, before once more finding the net against Croatia.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s important to start with a win in the tournament, especially against a strong Croatia team,\u201d Ruiz said after that game.
\nNext come Italy, as the nations meet at a fifth consecutive European Championship.
\nRuiz comes from the same tomato-producing town near Seville as 2010 World Cup-winner Jesus Navas and Barcelona starlet Gavi.
\nHaving emerged at Betis, he moved to Italy with Napoli in 2018 and spent four seasons in Serie A.
\nThere he played under Carlo Ancelotti and Gennaro Gattuso as well as Luciano Spalletti, who will be on the Italy bench on Thursday.
\nComing into the Euros, Spain were widely seen as sitting just behind the leading favourites to win the competition.
\nThis is therefore a big test of their credentials.
\n\u201cWe have always said our success comes down to being a team. I don\u2019t know if we\u2019re favourites or not but we\u2019ll try to fight to the end to get to the final,\u201d Ruiz said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The reigning champions face three-time winners in Gelsenkirchen\u2019s standout opening-round tie on Thursday GERMANY Spain are hoping the \u201cexceptional\u201d Fabian Ruiz can again be the difference-maker when they look to build on an impressive win against Croatia in their second Euro 2024 outing against Italy on Thursday. The meeting between the reigning European champions and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":413414,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-413399","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n