GNIEWINO, Poland, June 19 (Reuters) - Spain are victims of their own success, have become a target for unjustified criticism and people have perhaps forgotten to appreciate what they have, coach Vicente del Bosque and midfielder Andres Iniesta said on Tuesday.
The world and European champions turned in a below-par
performance to edge out Croatia 1-0 on Monday, prompting renewed
attacks on Del Bosque’s tactics in Spanish media despite the
team reaching the last eight as Euro 2012 Group C winners.
The debate has centered around whether Fernando Torres
should lead the line or whether Spain should forego a recognised
striker and deploy Cesc Fabregas as a roving forward.
Fabregas scored the equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw with
Italy in the opening game.
Torres started against Ireland and scored twice in a 4-0
success before making way for Fabregas but was largely
ineffective against the well-organised Croats and was replaced
by goalscorer Jesus Navas in the 61st minute.
Del Bosque said he accepted that people did not always agree
with his tactical decisions but said he had no reason to change
the way Spain play.
“Perhaps expectations are so high now that people will never
be satisfied,” the 61-year-old told a news conference at Spain’s
training base in Gniewino, northern Poland.
“We have gone from poor to rich so quickly that maybe people
don’t value what they have,” he added.
“We appear to be in a period of extremism, of either good or
bad, and there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground. Football
will decide and put us where we deserve to be.”
WINNING STREAK
Iniesta, who was man of the match in the Croatia game thanks
to his assist for Navas’s goal, said the team welcomed criticism
as long as it was constructive and it was positive that
expectations were so high.
“This is the respect that the team has won and we have to
enjoy it,” he told an earlier news conference.
“You have to remember that when you win all the time it’s
hard to maintain the same level,” added the man who netted the
winner in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands.
“Keeping a winning streak going is hard and gets harder all
the time, to constantly exceed our past achievements.
“But that’s what we are fighting for and that’s why we are
in the national team.
“Spain is not a team that does not have difficulties or
moments of doubt.
“All I can say is that the team is playing well and we are
still in the fight.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s quarter-final against the
runners-up of a Group D featuring France, England, co-hosts
Ukraine and eliminated Sweden, Iniesta said all three of Spain’s
potential opponents had strengths they should be wary of.
“They all have great players who can hurt you at any
moment,” he said.
“France perhaps focus more on possession and exchanging
short passes, while England are maybe more organised and wait
for the counter attack.
“Ukraine are playing at home which is an extra boost that
makes them more dangerous.”
