The midfielder’s argument is familiar to every successful side: yesterday’s trophy offers confidence, not protection. England will provide a serious examination of Spain’s concentration, ball retention and ability to respond when the game becomes less comfortable.
The report says manager Luis de la Fuente has made the same point to his squad, insisting that previous victories belong to the past. That is a sensible approach for a team seeking sustained success rather than a single celebrated campaign.
Spain’s challenge will be to turn experience into intensity. A talented squad can control possession, but the standards Ruiz describes also demand movement without the ball, discipline in transition and the willingness to compete for every second ball.
Ruiz has also made clear that the Nations League is being treated as a genuine objective rather than a secondary international tournament.
“We’re going for this title with a lot of enthusiasm,” Ruiz reportedly added. “We hope to be in the final four.”
That ambition gives the England fixture extra significance. Spain are not simply protecting their status; they are attempting to reinforce it against a major rival with its own expectations of silverware.
When Spain face England, the central storyline will be whether the holders can match their reputation with another complete performance. Ruiz has offered the warning; the players must now provide the answer on the pitch.