âSpain wonât relax now people think weâre favouritesâ
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Published
Spain âwonât relaxâ at Euro 2024 now people are regarding them as âfavouritesâ, says forward Mikel Oyarzabal.
They topped Group B before beating Georgia 4-1 to set up Fridayâs quarter-final against hosts Germany (17:00 BST).
Oyarzabal says Spainâs performances at the European Championship have changed peopleâs perceptions â with previous doubters now backing them to go the distance.
âThey say it now, but three weeks ago nobody said that about us,â the Real Sociedad forward said.
âWeâre sticking to the same idea and keeping on going in the same way, trusting ourselves, knowing we can compete against anyone.â
Spain had gone 44 years without a major trophy before winning Euro 2008 â which was the first of three in a row, as they then triumphed at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Their first trophy since then came when they won the Nations League in 2023 with a team who have impressed in Germany, and Oyarzabal says Spain are âcapable of competing against anyoneâ.
âFor me and for any us here, weâve got the best national team possible,â said Oyarzabal.
âWeâve got the best players, the best team-mates. Weâre all for one, there are no divisions within the team, we all feel important.â
If Spain are to find a path to the final, they will first have to get past a âtoughâ Germany side who won their group and beat Denmark in the last 16.
âGermany are a great team, you donât need me to tell you that. Theyâve started the tournament really strong, itâs going to be a tough game,â said the 27-year-old, who started their 1-0 group-stage win against Albania.
Oyarzabal said his side are remaining focused to prepare as best as they can for their tricky quarter-final.
âJust because people believe we are more or less favourites, it does not mean we are going to ease up,â he added.
âWeâre relaxed, working hard and trying to prepare as well as possible for Friday.â