On the eve of the Euro 2024 final, Spain defender Dani Vivian spoke to the media to share his thoughts on the upcoming summit clash with England, as well as his assessment of his teammates and opponents.
Vivian began by expressing his high appreciation for his teammate Rodri as the best player in his opinion and believes that Rodri should have already won the Ballon d'Or. This recognition of his teammate has certainly created a more united and positive atmosphere within the Spanish team.
Talking about the final showdown between Spain and England, Vivian recalled the last time the two teams met at the Euros, which was in the quarterfinals in 1996, when England eliminated Spain on penalties. However, Vivian said he had no say in that match as he was not yet born at the time. But he is confident that regardless of the past, the Spanish team will meet this final with full enthusiasm and passion.
Vivian showed enough respect for England's performance in the previous matches, but also emphasized that the Spanish team will focus on their own game. According to him, although extra time may be in Spain's favor, the results of soccer matches are always unpredictable, so they must be well prepared to take advantage of their chances to win the Euro.
Speaking about England's striker Harry Kane, Vivian spoke highly of him as one of the best strikers in football today. He reminded his teammates that they have to be very wary of Kane's threat as England have players up front who can decide the game and who have the ability to deal a fatal blow to the opposition at crucial moments.
In addition, Vivian mentioned the popularity of the Spanish team in the country, especially in the Basque region. He stated that the passion for soccer and support for the national team is very high in the region due to the fact that there are nine Basque players in the national team. This support and love from the fans certainly adds more motivation and confidence to the Spanish team.
Finally, Vivian re-emphasized the Spanish team's recognition of self-worth and respect for their teammates. He believes that the Spanish team should value the players they have more highly and give them all the honors they deserve. He believes that as long as the whole team is united and works hard, they will be able to accomplish what they have been working towards for a long time - winning the European Cup.
