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Azpilicueta: Spain united amid De Gea allegations


GOALEXCLUSIVE

Cesar Azpilicueta insists Spain have not been distracted by the allegations surrounding David De Gea and Iker Muniain ahead of their Euro 2016 tournament opener against the Czech Republic.

El Diario released alleged court documents on Friday, linking De Gea and Muniain to an ongoing case involving pornography businessman Ignacio Allende Fernandez.

De Gea has since denied any involvement with the case, and Azpilicueta insists that he and his team-mates are remaining staunchly focused on La Roja’s opening game of this summer’s tournament in France.

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Indeed, Vicente Del Bosque’s can complete an unprecedented hat-trick over the next month, having won both Euro 2008 and 2012.

Speaking exclusively to Goal, the Chelsea defender said: “We are completely focused on the football. We are willing to start the tournament.

“We have been concentrating for the last three weeks and, despite having played some friendly games, we are still preparing for the opening match.”

When pressed on the squad’s confidence in Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea, Azpilicueta replied: “We don’t comment at all.”

And, amid suggestions that De Gea could start the game on the substitutes’ bench, the full-back accepted that Del Bosque faces a number of selection dilemmas, such is the quality of the nation’s squad.

“It’s Del Bosque’s decision, because he is the one who has to make the decisions. The truth is that we have a group –among those who are here and those out of the squad – where there’s huge competition. The coach has to take decisions, and there’s some that are difficult.”

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