Spain has achieved nothing yet, De la Fuente warns
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente insists his side is yet to achieve anything at UEFA Euro 2024, despite qualifying for the knockout stages with a game to spare.
De la Fuente watched on as his side earned its second victory of the tournament against Italy, with Riccardo Calafiori's own goal ending the Azzurri's 10-game unbeaten run at the European championships.
The 1-0 triumph in Gelsenkirchen saw La Roja earn a third consecutive victory over Italy for the first time. Spain has also won its first two games to nil for just the second time at the tournament, also doing so in 2016.
However, De la Fuente knows his side has more to do to lift its third European championship trophy, insisting his players will show humility ahead of facing Albania in Dusseldorf.
"We're still a long way off winning the European championship. We haven't yet achieved anything. OK, we've won some important matches. We have wonderful prospects," De la Fuente said.
"But football can also be very cruel. So we need to be cautious. We need to be humble. We need to show respect."
For Albania, a last-minute equaliser by Klaus Gjasula against Croatia, making him just the second player to score a goal and an own goal in a single match at the European championships, kept its hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive.
The goal marked the first time Albania has scored more than once in a match at a major tournament, and its attacking talents will need to be firing as it aims to penetrate Spain's resolute defence, which in its previous game restricted Italy to just four shots, its fewest at tournament.
Head coach Sylvinho is hopeful of masterminding Albania's first victory against La Roja, promising supporters his side will give everything to ensure a memorable journey in Germany continues.
"What I promise to the Albanian people is that we will fight for every point," Sylvinho said.
"Against Spain it will be difficult but we must enjoy these moments."
La Roja boasts an impressive record over its opponent coming into the encounter in Dusseldorf, having won all eight of their previous meetings (31 goals for, three against).
It’s Spain’s best 100 per cent record against any opponent, alongside Liechtenstein and Malta, which it has also faced and beaten on eight occasions.
Spain will also be looking to maintain its perfect start to the competition heading into the Round of 16, and a win will see it win its opening three games at the championships for the second time after 2008, an edition where it would go on to claim its maiden title.
However, Albania will be hoping to start well and make it count this time around. Sylvinho's side has netted the opening goal in each of its two group games but is yet to win (one draw, one loss).
No nation has ever scored first in three European championship games in a row and failed to win any of them.