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DPA
Berlin
Luis Enrique said Spain’s automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has “taken a big weight” off his shoulders.
Alvaro Morata’s late goal helped Spain clinch a 1-0 win over Sweden in Seville on Sunday and secured top spot in Group B of European qualifying.
Sweden will go into a play-off next March to reach the tournament while Spain can begin preparations for their 12th consecutive World Cup finals.
Only Brazil (all 21), Germany (18) and Argentina (13) have qualified for more consecutive tournaments than Spain, who have reached every finals since 1978.
“Today has been a very beautiful day. We have suffered a lot, but the players have had faith and have taken their deserved prize,” Spain head coach Luis Enrique told a media conference.
“It is an excellent group of players. Not only the 25 who are here but all those who have been coming. “We are already in the World Cup and to be honest I have taken a big weight off my shoulders.
“I have felt much more pressure in these last games than in the European Championships or in the Nations League. “When you have to achieve something that seems easy or you have to do it because of history, you put pressure on yourself.
Morata has played 50 games for Spain in all competitions since his debut in November 2014 against Belarus and since then he has netted 23 goals for La Roja.
His winner against Sweden after coming on as a substitute means he has 10 more goals than any of his compatriots during that time and Luis Enrique hailed his impact for La Roja.
He said: “There is not a player that represents more than Morata overcoming adversity and criticism.
“Morata is always available to help. He is a very versatile player.”
Morata acknowledged it is unthinkable for Spain, who won the World Cup in 2010, to not qualify for the tournament.
“Spain has to be in all the World Cups,” Morata told RTVE.
“I needed to qualify for the World Cup and win, we are a great group and we deserve to be in the World Cup and we will be there.”
Sweden needed to win in Seville on Sunday to top Group B but will go into the play-offs instead.
Emil Forsberg had two clear-cut goalscoring opportunities for Sweden at the Estadio La Cartuja but was unable to test Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Morata gave Spain victory with a close-range strike on the rebound with four minutes of the game left after Dani Olmo had seen his effort hit the crossbar.
Morata said: “We have worked hard to achieve this goal, we have also gone through some tough times together, now every time there are more nerves but more excitement.
“I think we had to be at the World Cup. It is where we have to be, there is no need to celebrate more than necessary, Spain has to be at every World Cup.”
Spain showed the early intent and a slick passing move saw Pablo Sarabia cut inside and narrowly shoot wide of the far post with Robin Olsen well beaten.
Sweden weathered the early pressure and Forsberg went close when he curled narrowly wide for the visitors, who began with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the bench.
Olmo’s deflected effort went just over the crossbar midway through the first period before Sweden spurned a golden chance six minutes before half-time.
Ludwig Augustinsson’s cross from the left picked out the unmarked Forsberg at the back post, but his volleyed effort flashed just past the post.
Sweden missed two chances shortly after the interval; Cesar Azpilicueta carelessly lost possession but Alexander Isak fired over the crossbar before Forsberg got himself in a tangle after being picked out by Albin Ekdal.
Sandwiched between those opportunities, Spain’s Raul de Tomas glanced a header just wide from Sarabia’s teasing corner.
Sweden threw on veteran Ibrahimovic with 17 minutes left, but it was Spain who looked more likely to score in the remainder of the contest.
The decisive moment came late in the 86th minute when substitute Morata expertly guided the ball into an empty net after Olmo’s effort bounced back out off the woodwork.
Berlin
Luis Enrique said Spain’s automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has “taken a big weight” off his shoulders.
Alvaro Morata’s late goal helped Spain clinch a 1-0 win over Sweden in Seville on Sunday and secured top spot in Group B of European qualifying.
Sweden will go into a play-off next March to reach the tournament while Spain can begin preparations for their 12th consecutive World Cup finals.
Only Brazil (all 21), Germany (18) and Argentina (13) have qualified for more consecutive tournaments than Spain, who have reached every finals since 1978.
“Today has been a very beautiful day. We have suffered a lot, but the players have had faith and have taken their deserved prize,” Spain head coach Luis Enrique told a media conference.
“It is an excellent group of players. Not only the 25 who are here but all those who have been coming. “We are already in the World Cup and to be honest I have taken a big weight off my shoulders.
“I have felt much more pressure in these last games than in the European Championships or in the Nations League. “When you have to achieve something that seems easy or you have to do it because of history, you put pressure on yourself.
Morata has played 50 games for Spain in all competitions since his debut in November 2014 against Belarus and since then he has netted 23 goals for La Roja.
His winner against Sweden after coming on as a substitute means he has 10 more goals than any of his compatriots during that time and Luis Enrique hailed his impact for La Roja.
He said: “There is not a player that represents more than Morata overcoming adversity and criticism.
“Morata is always available to help. He is a very versatile player.”
Morata acknowledged it is unthinkable for Spain, who won the World Cup in 2010, to not qualify for the tournament.
“Spain has to be in all the World Cups,” Morata told RTVE.
“I needed to qualify for the World Cup and win, we are a great group and we deserve to be in the World Cup and we will be there.”
Sweden needed to win in Seville on Sunday to top Group B but will go into the play-offs instead.
Emil Forsberg had two clear-cut goalscoring opportunities for Sweden at the Estadio La Cartuja but was unable to test Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Morata gave Spain victory with a close-range strike on the rebound with four minutes of the game left after Dani Olmo had seen his effort hit the crossbar.
Morata said: “We have worked hard to achieve this goal, we have also gone through some tough times together, now every time there are more nerves but more excitement.
“I think we had to be at the World Cup. It is where we have to be, there is no need to celebrate more than necessary, Spain has to be at every World Cup.”
Spain showed the early intent and a slick passing move saw Pablo Sarabia cut inside and narrowly shoot wide of the far post with Robin Olsen well beaten.
Sweden weathered the early pressure and Forsberg went close when he curled narrowly wide for the visitors, who began with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the bench.
Olmo’s deflected effort went just over the crossbar midway through the first period before Sweden spurned a golden chance six minutes before half-time.
Ludwig Augustinsson’s cross from the left picked out the unmarked Forsberg at the back post, but his volleyed effort flashed just past the post.
Sweden missed two chances shortly after the interval; Cesar Azpilicueta carelessly lost possession but Alexander Isak fired over the crossbar before Forsberg got himself in a tangle after being picked out by Albin Ekdal.
Sandwiched between those opportunities, Spain’s Raul de Tomas glanced a header just wide from Sarabia’s teasing corner.
Sweden threw on veteran Ibrahimovic with 17 minutes left, but it was Spain who looked more likely to score in the remainder of the contest.
The decisive moment came late in the 86th minute when substitute Morata expertly guided the ball into an empty net after Olmo’s effort bounced back out off the woodwork.
