DAVID DE GEA is being made to sweat in the scorching Seville sunshine.
Spain boss Luis Enrique refused to say whether the erratic Manchester United keeper will start tonight’s Group E tie against Sweden.
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Asked who will be between the sticks, Enrique said: “I’ve already answered this question. It will be David De Gea… Robert Sanchez or Unai Simon – one of those three!”
De Gea, 30, is not the only one feeling the heat in Seville.
The city is in the midst of a heatwave, with the pitchside temperature expected to be 30°C when the match kicks off at 9pm local time.
Enrique said: “There will be many factors in the match, with the heat being one of them.
“We have been training in Madrid at the hottest point of the day in a bid to recreate the temperature we are being told to expect in Seville.
“I hope that means we will still be able to play the match at a decent tempo.”
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Spain were knocked out in the last 16 five years ago having won the previous two tournaments.
And Enrique agreed it is time for his country to become a force once again.
He said: “I would love that and I’m convinced it will be the case.
“And I will continue to be convinced until I see evidence to the contrary. I am an optimist.
“Our first target is to get out of the group and then we will see if we can get past the round of 16.”
Spain’s preparations have been hit by a Covid outbreak which has sidelined captain Sergio Busquets and led to the whole squad being vaccinated.
But stand-in skipper Jordi Alba said: “We’re all in perfect shape, both physically and mentally, and are looking forward to playing this match.”
Spain finished above Sweden in their qualifying group, beating them 3-0 in Madrid in June 2019 before drawing 1-1 in Solna four months later.
Swedes boss Janne Andersson said: “We know we need to get a result this time.
“We cannot take that much from our matches against them in the qualifiers. We have a gameplan but the players have to step up.”
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