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David Alaba expressed his respect for Spain ahead of their Round of 16 clash at the World Cup but emphasized that his team has no intention of going into the match as underdogs. The experienced defender acknowledged that the Spanish squad boasts exceptional talent and players capable of deciding any game with their individual class. However, he remains confident that Austria possesses the qualities to make the encounter extremely difficult for one of the tournament favorites.
“We know we have the potential to seriously challenge Spain. We are also aware that they have a team full of quality and players who can decide any match. A very tough game awaits us.”
The Austrian captain admitted that there are still aspects of the team's performance that need improvement, especially against an opponent of Spain's caliber. Nevertheless, he is confident that the remaining time until the match will be utilized to its fullest. Spain enters the knockout phase as one of the main contenders for the trophy, but Austria will aim to deliver one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 World Cup, even if the odds for such an outcome seem slim.
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