Azpilicueta visited Marca's FIFA World Cup show, where he and Rafa Sauquillo analyzed the Spanish national team's status before their Round of 16 match against Portugal. He believes the Spanish team is continuously improving: "It's not about how you start the game, but how you finish it. This team will grow as the tournament progresses, and now is the time to decide everything."
Oyarzabal, Spain's Top Scorer
One of the focuses of this interview was Mikel Oyarzabal, who has scored 4 goals in 4 matches and has become one of the most important offensive players under Luis de la Fuente. Azpilicueta made no secret of his admiration for the Real Sociedad forward: "I am happy for Mikel. He has proven his importance to this team; strikers thrive on scoring goals. I believe he will bring many more surprises." He also specifically mentioned Oyarzabal's ability to read the game in the box: "In his first goal, he stopped his run first, then asked for the ball back, which is the movement of a pure striker."
Lamine Yamal, The Decisive Player
Azpilicueta also spoke about Lamine Yamal, who once again showed his best form in Spain's last match. "Yamal is gradually finding his rhythm, and you can see him growing throughout this tournament. He dares to break through, he can attract defenders, he's the kind of player who can change a game," Azpilicueta said. He particularly values Yamal's diverse technical skills: "He has many variations and is constantly adding new things, which makes him increasingly excellent."
In addition to offensive talent, the Navarrese also focused on another point he values most: defensive solidity. "One thing I really like about this Spanish team is that they haven't conceded a goal yet. This defensive stability is very important; don't give the opponent too many chances, and your chances of winning in this FIFA World Cup will be greater," he stated.
Ronaldo-led Portugal will be Spain's Round of 16 Opponent
When discussing the match against Portugal, Azpilicueta showed no complacency, and he also mentioned Spain's experience in the Qatar FIFA World Cup, where the team won their first group stage match convincingly but were eliminated in the Round of 16. "What happened before is irrelevant. Every match is different. Portugal will approach the game against Spain with great fighting spirit, and Spain will do the same," he warned. However, he still offered an optimistic assessment: "I believe in the ability of our players; they can control the pace of the game."
The former player also analyzed the threat of Ronaldo, who at 41, remains a decisive figure for Portugal. "Ronaldo and Messi are not ordinary people. They have played for so many years, so many matches, and are still proving their level, their preparation methods, and their ambition to continue scoring goals," Azpilicueta said. He also included Modrić among the legendary players who refuse to leave the top stage.
Azpilicueta Warns France
Azpilicueta believes France is one of the strongest teams in the tournament, especially their offensive firepower, but he did not rule out Spain's chances of winning the championship: "We are the European champions. Favorite teams sometimes start well but get eliminated in the end. Every knockout round is different, but I see Spain growing, and of course, they have a chance."
Finally, the former defender admitted he would miss the daily routine in the locker room, but he also enjoys his new phase as a commentator. "I will miss the days of wearing cleats, but life is a series of stages. In this FIFA World Cup, I am working as a commentator, trying to learn, enjoy, and see football from a different perspective."
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com