A Catalan and a Spanish flags seen at Sant Jaume square in Barcelona on Thursday. ReutersSpain are eyeing a maiden title in the FIFA U-17 World Cup when they take on England at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata tonight.
But the news from back home about Catalonia declaring independence could not have come at a more inappropriate time for the team coached by Santi Denia.
The Spanish side consists of four Barcelona 'B' players, including captain and star striker Abel Ruiz.
The Catalan giants had played in an empty Camp Nou in La Liga after the Catalonia independence referendum resulted in violent protests.
The Spanish government sacked the Catalan parliament on Friday and has called for a poll in the region in December. According to reports, Catalonia is almost evenly split between pro and anti-independence parties, which is a key reason for the country's worst internal crisis in the recent past.
The developments in Spain will surely nag the players and the team management will be trying its level best to keep them focused on the big game.
Ruiz has been in fine form for La Roja, with six goals in the competition. He has scored in all three off Spain's knockout games – a winner off a last-gasp penalty against France in the pre-quarterfinals, the opener against Iran in the quarterfinals, and a brace against Mali in the semifinals. Now, the big challenge for Ruiz and his teammates will be to lift themselves and get going against England.
Though Spain have made it to the U-17 World Cup summit clash thrice, the crown has eluded them.
England are playing in the first final for the first time. The English will be determined to avenge their defeat to La Roja in the European U-17 Championships final in Croatia when they went down on penalties.
Read also: Spain sacks Catalan government after independence declaration | More FIFA U-17 WC stories
