Spain will play Portugal like it's a final, says Luis Enrique

BRAGA : Spain manager Luis Enrique said his full-strength side will be totally focused when they visit Portugal in the League A-Group 2 decider on Tuesday for a place in the Nations League final four.

With the World Cup less than two months away, the Spain coach said no Monday that they will focus 100 per cent on beating Portugal and there will be no distractions.

"We will face it like a final, there is no other way," Luis Enrique told a news conference ahead of a game Spain must win to reach the semi-finals instead of Portugal.

"Only a victory is worth (anything to) us. It's a final and throughout a career you don't play many, even less with your national team.

"Our best players will play, there will be no tests or rotations. We don't speculate in Spain and on Tuesday we will play to win. Period."

Luis Enrique rowed back on the criticism he dished out to his players after Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Switzerland.

He said after the game that their performance was "the worse I can remember since I've been coaching this team."

The result knocked last year's finalists off the top of the group with one game left to play, having been leapfrogged by Portugal who breezed past Czech Republic 4-0 away to reach 10 points, two ahead of Spain.

"I sent the wrong message after the game on Saturday. I've seen the first half again and it wasn't that bad," Luis Enrique said.

"It was more (due to the) merit of Switzerland, who were flawless. We lacked precision in the last third, close to their area. That is where we were imprecise, not back in defence.

"I don't think it will happen again but in football it's always possible. The problem is the physical level of Switzerland, which is higher than many. Mistakes are part of soccer."

Portugal