This Saturday, the Andorra national football team will face England at the RCDE Stadium, a matchup that brings back many memories for Koldo Álvarez de Eulate, Andorra’s head coach. In his playing days, he faced the English team twice in Barcelona, both at the Montjuïc stadium, where he made 78 appearances as goalkeeper for the Andorran national team.
Álvarez indeed experienced many battles between the posts, and he can now share those stories with his players. Notably, he recalls shining against the legendary England squad featuring stars like Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, John Terry, and Frank Lampard during matches in 2007 and 2008, even though he conceded goals from Gerrard.
The Andorran team lost 0-3 in 2007 during the Euro 2008 qualifiers and fell 0-2 the following year in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers, both times putting on commendable performances despite the defeats. “But we lost,” Álvarez remarked during a press conference on Friday.
However, the former goalkeeper, who has been at the helm of the Andorran team since 2010, believes his players have the “right to dream.” He draws inspiration from the Under-21 team’s achievement of drawing 3-3 with England.
As the team arrives in Cornellà-El Prat, they will face prominent players like Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Despite the challenge ahead, Álvarez holds a deep understanding of competing against top-tier talent, drawing on his past experiences and his connection to the current squad, where his son, Iker Álvarez, now defends the Andorran goal. This highlights a hopeful narrative for the upcoming match, emphasizing the potential for inspiration and growth within the team and the dreams they hold.