Fran Sandaza insists Spanish supporters are “fed up” with ineffective possession football and reckons La Roja’s approach should be questioned — not Scotland’s.
The former Dundee United, St Johnstone and Rangers striker readily admits that he HATES his national team’s sterile dominance of games which has seen them exit at the last-16 stage, or earlier, in four of their last five major finals.
It was more of the same at Hampden Park on Tuesday as Steve Clarke’s men claimed a famous — and, in truth, comfortable — 2-0 triumph over their much-vaunted visitors.
Spain bossed possession but ultimately registered fewer shots than the hosts.
In the aftermath of the contest, a decidedly bitter Spain skipper Rodri described Scotland’s style as “rubbish” and questioned the perceived ease with which players hit the deck.
However, those complaints fell on deaf ears as far as Sandaza — scorer of 27 goals in four years in Scottish football — is concerned.
🇪🇸 Spain's Rodri gives his verdict on his side's loss to Scotland
"It's the way they play…for me it's a bit rubbish. Because it's always wasting time. They provoke you. They always fall. For me, this is not football." 🗣️👀#EURO2024 | #SCOESP pic.twitter.com/MIgxOOA2Cl
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 28, 2023
“If I am the manager of Scotland, then I would play the exact same way,” Sandaza told Courier Sport. “Sometimes you have to play “ugly” football at moments to win matches. The opposition must handle that. The most important thing is the result.
“I’ll be honest; I hate the play of Spain when it is “touch, touch, touch” for nothing.
“I look back to the last World Cup and we were ridiculous for doing that. Every major tournament now, it is always the same. “Touch, touch, touch” and going nowhere near the goal.
“In Spain, a lot of people are now fed up with having the ball all of the time and not creating dangerous moments.
“With the new manager, I hope something changes for Spain — this is only his second game, so it’s too early to judge him — but Scotland and their fans should be proud.”
“What’s the plan?”
Indeed, Spanish excuses have failed to assuage the anger back home.
Marca’s ratings from last night. Bit stingy on Scotland’s centre-backs, maybe, but doesn’t look like the moaning from Rodri and others cut much ice in Madrid… pic.twitter.com/Q9VVIyw6Oo
— Mark Wilson (@Mark_WilsonDM) March 29, 2023
The front page of influential daily newspaper Marca exclaimed “What’s the plan?”, while AS bemoaned a “Collapse in Glasgow”.
New boss Luis de la Fuente is already in the firing line after making EIGHT changes from the side which defeated Norway 3-0 in his first match in charge.
“People in Spain thought we were going to win easily,” said Sandaza. “To be honest, I was a little happy for everyone in Scotland. When you are the favourite and you think a match will be easy, this is what happens in football.
“Now it is time to feel and think about what is the best next step for this team. We have a new manager and people don’t know him very well. He is not famous like Luis Enrique. There are many doubts about this national team.
"LISTEN TO THIS PLACE!" 🎙
Scott McTominay doubles @ScotlandNT's lead and his tally for the night against Spain 🏴
Hampden is ROARING now 🙌#EURO2024 | #SCOESP | @mctominay10 pic.twitter.com/USvT6q4i6A
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 28, 2023
“The manager wanted to see new players but it seemed that he thought the Scotland game would be easier than the Norway match.
“To change a lot of players was a total mistake from him, I think.”
Sandaza the sporting director?
Such big calls and scrutiny are par for the course in coaching — particularly in a football-daft nation that became accustomed to glory as they swept aside all rivals between 2008 and 2012.
And life in the dugout is not one that appeals to the former Valencia youth product.
Sandaza has been without a club since departing Extremadura and, while yet to formally hang up his boots, a playing career that took him from Tayside to Tokyo now appears to be in the rearview mirror.
“I have been without a club for a while now and, although I have not said anything official, people can maybe guess it,” smiled Sandaza.
It is now time for the next step on his journey.
“I am studying to become a sporting director with the Spanish football federation,” he added. “Becoming a coach was never something that interested me. All of my life, I had the discipline of training every day, playing matches every weekend and doing a lot of travelling.
“I want to change from that sort of life.
“Being an agent? Being a sporting director? These aspects of football could be interesting for me — but coaching? That is not the job for me.”
Could that career path see him back on British shores?
He adds: “Why not? One big positive I have is that I speak English, which is not the case for a lot of people from Spain. I have many good memories and friends from my time in the U.K., so you can never rule out any opportunity to return.”
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