De la Fuente scanned the room one last time. "We've prepared for this. Trust each other. Trust the plan. We beat Croatia—now we beat Italy."
He closed the team sheet, signaling the end of the meeting.
Players rose from their seats, some stretching, others exchanging quiet words of encouragement.
Pedri patted Izan's back as he walked by. "Big day ahead," he said jokingly.
"I know," Izan replied with a slight shove.
Lamine Yamal who was beside them grinned. "No pressure"
Izan smirked. "Don't know if they've told you but they almost added no pressure to my name."
And on the day, he would prove it.
While Luis de la Fuente finalized his tactical approach, the outside world buzzed with one burning question:
"Would you start Izan against Italy?"
From Spanish sports networks to international pundit panels, Izan's name dominated discussions.
His first start in a major tournament wasn't just a personal milestone—it was a declaration of intent.
