The Spanish national football team departed their Chattanooga training camp on Wednesday afternoon to travel to Los Angeles ahead of their World Cup last-32 knockout match against Austria on Thursday.
Before leaving Tennessee, local fans gathered outside the team hotel trying to catch a final glimpse of the squad.
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"I've been here three weeks. I know you've seen me!"
stated a placard held by a young fan outside the fence.
Another supporter displayed a message seeking interaction from the players before departure. "Please come out!"
read the second placard.
Midfielder Fabian Ruiz addressed the external discussions surrounding the team performance and tactical choices as they prepare for the knockout stage.
"Sometimes things don't go the way we would like; we're working to ensure they do," said Fabian Ruiz, Spain midfielder.
The Paris Saint-Germain player recovered from a long-term injury during the club season to regain full match fitness for the tournament.
"It has been hard to get my pace and rhythm back, but I am 100% now," said Fabian Ruiz.
The midfielder noted that multiple players faced extended recovery periods prior to arriving at the tournament base.
"I think they're 100%, but I can only speak for myself: I feel in good form.
There were long-term injuries and it is true that to start with it is hard to get up to pace and adapt when you come back.
I struggled with that, but by the time I got here, I had played various games in a row for PSG at the highest level without having to stop.
