King Felipe praised the Spanish team’s game and the quality of its players and acknowledged that “it is wonderful to watch them play” as well as “a pleasure and an illusion” to be able to follow them live like this Thursday, when the monarch traveled to Gelsenkirchen (Germany) for Spain’s second match against Italy in the Euro Cup. The King was accompanied by Pedro Rocha, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), in his first tournament as president of the RFEF after the departure of Luis Rubiales.
“It’s amazing to watch him play and what’s missing is a goal, but there’s no doubt that the control of the ball and the feeling of getting chances and being strong in defence, avoiding counterattacks makes it a good first half,” added Raja appearing on Spanish television at half-time of the match on the second day of the continental tournament.
“It’s always a pleasure and an illusion to come to watch the national team,” Felipe VI said at the German city’s Arena auf Schalke.
King Felipe in the box with RFEF President Pedro Rocha
After the game, he visited the Spanish team’s locker room to congratulate the players on the important victory against the Italians (1-0), which gave them direct qualification to play in the round of 16 of the European competition. Felipe VI particularly praised the athletic player, Nico Williams, who was the best in a match where the blaugranas Pedri and Lamine Yamal also stood out.
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“Today they left you alone,” he joked to goalkeeper Unai Simeone and, after congratulating each player, he received a Spain shirt from captain Alvaro Morata with the number 10 and the name Felipe VI written on the back.
“I will wear it because I won’t be able to come by then… I can’t say that, but if you keep playing like this I will be very happy,” he said if Spain reach the Euro 2017 final.
Felipe VI receives a national team shirt from the players after the match against Italy
For the third consecutive European Championship, Felipe VI supports the Spanish international players with his presence. It started in Spain’s debut in the competition against the Czech Republic in Toulouse in the 2016 edition and in the 2020 edition, played in La Cartuja in Seville in 2021 due to the pandemic, presiding over the match against Sweden.
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