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Spain’s 1-0 win over Italy on Matchday 2 not only secured their place in the knockout stage at Euro 2024 but also cemented them as winners of Group B. They will be looking to win their opening three games of a European Championship for just a second time, having previously done so in 2008, when they went on to win the tournament.
Manager Luis de la Fuente may decide to ring the changes and rest his stars against Albania, especially given the amount of hard work that was put into their impressive performance against the Azzurri.
Spain won possession in the final third on 10 occasions against Italy on Thursday; the most times they’ve done so in a game at the European Championship since the 2008 quarter-final, which was also against the Italians (13).
Nico Williams was in sensational form against Italy, and it was his cross that was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Riccardo Calafiori to win it for La Roja.
Williams created the most chances (4) and completed the joint-most dribbles (4) of any Spain player against Italy. Indeed, the last Spaniard to create as many chances and complete as many dribbles in the same game at the European Championship was Andrés Iniesta against Croatia in 2012 (also 4 for both metrics).
Given Spain are already through as group winners, Pedri could be among those rested in Düsseldorf. If the talented youngster does feature for Spain in this match, though, he will establish a new record by a European player for major tournament appearances (World Cup/Euros) while aged 21 or under, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo (currently level on 12 games each).
One player who will definitely be absent for Spain is Rodri, who is suspended after collecting yellow cards against both Croatia and Italy.
Albania still have a chance of qualifying, having rescued a late point last time out against Croatia. They had to score a 95th-minute equaliser despite having earlier taken the lead. Albania have scored the opening goal in each of their two matches at Euro 2024, although they are yet to win (D1 L1). No nation has ever scored first in three European Championship games in a row and failed to win any of them.