Fabian Ruiz urges Spain to reset for Nations League opener against England
Spain begin their latest UEFA Nations League campaign at Wembley with the status of world champions and a formidable unbeaten record to protect, but Fabian Ruiz says the squad have already been reminded that their summer success counts for little once the next competition begins.
La Roja face England in London in their first competitive match since beating Argentina in July’s World Cup final. That victory left Spain holding both the World Cup and European Championship at the same time, reviving comparisons with the side that dominated international football from 2008 to 2012. They arrive at Wembley unbeaten in 38 matches in all competitions.
Ruiz, the 30-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, said Luis de la Fuente has made clear that the players cannot rely on past achievements. “The coach has told us that what happened before is now history,” he said. “It was wonderful, but the focus has to be on the present. The hardest thing in football is to win again. Winning once is very good; repeating it is the difficult part.”
Spain have a strong recent record in the Nations League, reaching three of the previous four finals and losing only once in normal time across their last 18 matches in the competition. Their immediate aim is another place in the final four, although Group 3 also includes demanding fixtures against Croatia and Czechia.
Ruiz said the team regard the Nations League as a significant target rather than a secondary honour. “Our challenge is to keep wanting to win and to continue winning,” he said. “It is very difficult, but this group has the quality to do it. We are approaching this title with great excitement because it is important to us. We hope to reach the final four.”
The meeting also renews a rivalry tilted in Spain’s favour in recent years. La Roja have won six of their past nine games against England, most notably their 2-1 victory in the Euro 2024 final. A positive result at Wembley would provide an early statement from De la Fuente’s side as they pursue another Nations League finals appearance.
