Spain's national football team is refining its attacking precision ahead of its second World Cup group stage match against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday.
The European champions are seeking to regain their clinical edge after being held to a 0-0 draw by Cape Verde in their opening fixture.
During a rest day in Chattanooga, forward Borja Iglesias was briefly locked out of the team hotel by security before teammates helped him enter ahead of curfew.
"It was funny," Iglesias said. "It happens to me in Spain, so how could it not happen here?
I didn't have the accreditation with me so I had to wait for someone to come and get me."
Spain generated 27 shots against Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha, who made seven saves, but failed to score.
"I'm not sure it's fair to say that the forwards have to 'improve', but yes, we need goals," Iglesias said.
"We had various chances and didn't score; other times you only get one chance and you do score.
So, be calm."
Team Confidence Remains High
Midfielder Martín Zubimendi noted that an early goal would have changed the tactical dynamic of the opening match.
"If we had scored one, the game would have changed," Zubimendi said.
Goalkeeper David Raya did not play in the opener, but internal discussions touched on the emotional impact of high-stakes matches.
"When you lose a Champions League final it destroys you inside," Raya said.
Midfielder Rodri supported the attacking unit, emphasizing that Spain prevented Cape Verde from creating meaningful counter-attacks.
"There's nothing to reproach the team for," Rodri said. "We generated chances but couldn't put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing."
Manager Luis de la Fuente acknowledged external pressure but maintained confidence in his tactical philosophy, noting the team's unbeaten streak now stands at 32 matches.
"Maybe the fact that it was the first game conditioned things," De la Fuente said.
The manager said the squad is motivated by outside criticism and remains highly competitive.
"The players are stung, and tomorrow will be different for sure," De la Fuente said.
De la Fuente also managed the minutes of winger Lamine Yamal, who is returning from a hamstring injury, suggesting he might feature in the second half against Saudi Arabia.
"The good news is that Lamine is back," De la Fuente said.
He dismissed suggestions of an internal crisis, pointing to the team's competitive response to challenges.
"We would be in a better mood if we had won but today we have taken our run to 32 games unbeaten," De la Fuente said.
Zubimendi disputed criticisms regarding Spain's midfield ball circulation speed and expressed full confidence in Rodri's role.
"We were sad those first 24 hours but we have turned it around now," Zubimendi said.
He concluded that precision in the final third would be the deciding factor against Saudi Arabia.
"It was not a brilliant game but nor was it really bad: there are things we can take from it," Zubimendi said.
"We have to come up with improvements, especially that fluidity, that freshness in the final third which I think is going to be the key."
Defender Aymeric Laporte confirmed the squad's collective ambition to secure three points in the upcoming match.
"We were annoyed, which is the way it should be," Laporte said. "But it's also true that we are unbeaten in 32.
We have the ambition and the confidence to look to the next game, think positively, and try to win, as we always do."
