Negredo: Spain must beat France

Alvaro Negredo says it is vital that Spain defeat France in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Paris, labelling the fixture a ‘final’.

Spain trail the Group I leaders by two points and Vicente Del Bosque’s side go into the game aware of the permutations involved.

Defeat could consign the European champions to needing to win a play-off before securing their place in the tournament in Brazil, while victory would put them in pole position to qualify as group-winners.

And Negredo is under no illusions as to the importance of the game.

“It’s a real final, not only for us but for France too,” Negredo told EFE.

“Spain will do whatever it takes to win the game. We have to fight to the death in France. We are obligated to win, just as we needed to win against Finland,” he said.

“We have quality to win in any stadium in the world. This team have already shown what we are capable of.”