Spain defeated Norway 3-0 at La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga on Saturday night in the opening game of their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. This was the first game for new Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who took the reigns from Luis Enrique following La Furia Roja’s Round of 16 exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Dani Olmo handed the home team and took the lead in the 13th minute, sending the ball into the bottom corner of the goal after being set up by left-back Alejandro Balde. Without the strike power of Erling Haaland, Norway attempted to respond two minutes later when martin Odegaard’s shot on goal was blocked by center-back Nacho, who returns to the national squad after a five-year absence.
While the two sides continued to exchange chances, it was only in the 83rd minute that Spain managed to double their lead. 32-year-old striker Joselu scored with a header just three minutes after coming onto the field, thereby sealing a dream international debut for himself. The Espanyol forward struck again just two minutes later to extend his team’s lead to three goals.
“I have to thank [the coach] for the faith he’s shown in me in his first match in charge. I tried to give my all to reward him,” Joselu commented after the game.
