Patricia Guijarro insists Spain won't adapt style of play for England
By Ali Rampling
Patricia Guijarro insists her side will not compromise their possession-based style of play when they come up against England in the Euro 2022 quarter-finals.
La Roja are renowned for their passing football and dominated the ball in each of their three group stage fixtures.
On Wednesday, they face an England side built on similar principles, having seen the second highest amount of possession at this summer's tournament behind only Spain, while also boasting a marginally superior passing accuracy.
"I don't think we need to adapt our game to England and we won't," said Guijarro. "The best thing we can do is play our game, try to keep possession.
"Attack is the best form of defence for us. We have good players who can keep the ball well and create chances so that's the best thing we can do, by sticking to our game and keeping possession."
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Spain had been hailed as one of the tournament favourites ahead of Euro 2022 given they possess the spine of Barcelona's all-conquering side, but many now consider England as the team to beat following their performances in the group stages.
However, Guijarro insisted that being labelled externally as favourites was not something the Spain squad concerned themselves with.
"Internally to be honest whether we've been given labels or not is not what we're focused on," she added. "We've always had the same mentality, we've always worked hard from the start and up until today it's been the same.
"We just want to win and have a mentality that we're capable of beating anyone by playing our game and in the Spanish way. We've always given our best and we're not changing anything."
With a selection of the finest players in world football going head to head, Wednesday evening's clash is poised to be an intriguing encounter - and Guijarro is hopeful the Spain team will have the whole nation supporting them.
"They [the fans] are going to see a very good game of football," the midfielder said. "It will be one of the best possible in women's football at the moment. For anyone that likes football it's a game that you want to keep an eye on.
"As it's the quarter finals of the Euros we really hope the whole of Spain is behind us, because that is so important for us."