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Spain could struggle at Euro 2016 without an experienced striker

Spain could struggle at Euro 2016 without an experienced striker

Spain are seen as one of the favourites to win Euro 2016, but the exclusion of Chelsea striker Diego Costa may mean a slight gap in Vicente del Bosque’s attacking options.

La Roja is a team that has played with a false number nine and no nominated striker, but against some of the more defensive teams Spain could find it difficult to score goals with no main striker.

Del Bosque has named 19 of the players who will travel to France this summer, with the three strikers named as Aritz Aduriz, Alvaro Morata and Nolito. None of the three have much international experience and the lack of a proven striker stands out.

Veteran striker Aduriz was one of the surprise packages in La Liga last season. The 35-year-old Athletic Bilbao striker has always been handy in front of goal, but his goal tally of 32 last season would have surprised most. The former-Valencia striker has won just four caps for his country.

Morata is also relatively inexperienced at international level having won just eight caps. This season the 23-year-old has scored 12 times for Italian giants Juventus and is believed to have attracted interest from Premier League Arsenal.

Then there is Celta Vigo forward Nolito. The 29-year-old has won just seven caps for his country and is more often found playing more as a winger than a central striker.

Between the three Spanish strikers they have amassed just three international goals. That must be a concern for the Spanish fans. However everybody connected with Spain will be confident that quality from other areas may well compensate for the lack of an experienced central striker.

Euro Championship Group A
OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
1
Italy 9 3 3 0 0 7
2
Wales 4 3 1 1 1 1
3
Switzerland 4 3 1 1 1 -1
4
Türkiye 0 3 0 0 3 -7
Euro Championship Group B
OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
1
Belgium 9 3 3 0 0 6
2
Denmark 3 3 1 0 2 1
3
Finland 3 3 1 0 2 -2
4
Russia 3 3 1 0 2 -5
Euro Championship Group C
OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
1
Netherlands 9 3 3 0 0 6
2
Austria 6 3 2 0 1 1
3
Ukraine 3 3 1 0 2 -1
4
North Macedonia 0 3 0 0 3 -6
Euro Championship Group D
OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
1
England 7 3 2 1 0 2
2
Croatia 4 3 1 1 1 1
3
Czech Republic 4 3 1 1 1 1
4
Scotland 1 3 0 1 2 -4
Euro Championship Group E
OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
1
Sweden 7 3 2 1 0 2
2
Spain 5 3 1 2 0 5
3
Slovakia 3 3 1 0 2 -5
4
Poland 1 3 0 1 2 -2
Euro Championship Group F
OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
1
France 5 3 1 2 0 1
2
Germany 4 3 1 1 1 1
3
Portugal 4 3 1 1 1 1
4
Hungary 2 3 0 2 1 -3

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