Del Bosque mulls 'false nine' option
Reuters - Tuesday 28 February 2012, 14:23
Fernando Torres's
Spain team-mates are convinced the overlooked Chelsea forward
will win back his place in the national team, but with so many
superb ball players to call on coach Vicente del Bosque has the
option of doing without a striker altogether at Euro 2012.
The world and European champions arrived in Malaga on
Tuesday for their final match before Del Bosque names his squad
for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, a friendly against
Venezuela on Wednesday.
The former Real Madrid coach announced on Friday he had
reluctantly dropped Torres, who has suffered a spectacular loss
of form since moving to Chelsea from Liverpool just over a year
ago, and told Tuesday's news conference playing without a
traditional striker was a realistic possibility.
"Against Scotland we experimented without any reference
points in the forward line," Del Bosque said of October's Euro
2012 qualifier in Alicante, which Spain won 3-1 thanks to two
goals from David Silva and one from David Villa.
"These are options that we have and that we should utilise,"
he added. "This richness in our play is beneficial and works
well for us."
Spain have a number of gifted attacking midfielders who
could fill the role of what is known in the Iberian nation as
the "false number nine."
As well as Silva, Del Bosque also has Cesc Fabregas, Andres
Iniesta and Juan Mata on his roster, while Villa is another
possibility should he recover from leg surgery in time.
The system typically includes three players across the front-line who make darting runs on to short, quick passes and is one
that Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola often relies on.
Teenager Iker Muniain, who is in the senior squad for the
first time for the Venezuela game, also has a proven ability to
find the net operating as a roving forward and making
intelligent runs into the penalty area.
"We have to adapt to the playing style the coach maps out
for us and we have no problem moulding our play to his ideas,"
Muniain said.
"We have played in many different ways, with a number nine
or without, and Spain has always maintained a high level, which
is the most important thing," playmaker Santi Cazorla added.
SCORING TOUCH
If Del Bosque does opt to deploy a traditional striker and
decides not to give Torres another chance, he can call on the
towering Fernando Llorente, the powerful Alvaro Negredo or the
tenacious Roberto Soldado.
Soldado replaced Torres in the latest squad, recalled after
five years on the sidelines after playing twice in 2007. He said
he was sure Torres would rediscover his scoring touch.
"He is popular in the dressing room and has been a
fundamental part of the team and I am sure he will be again,"
Soldado said.
"In the meantime, I am determined to make the most of the
opportunity I have and to justify the confidence the coach has
shown in me."
Cazorla added of Torres: "Nobody doubts that he will find
his confidence again. I am sending him a lot of encouragement
and a big hug, because he is a fundamental part of the side."
Del Bosque said he expected a tough game against Venezuela.
"They have some players who play outside Venezuela and that
makes them stronger," he said.
"I expect them to be well set on the pitch, with an
attractive playing style.
"It's good for us to play against such an opponent
considering what we have coming up [Euro 2012]."
Spain won all eight qualifiers for the continental
championship and finished top of Group I.
They are in Group C for the finals along with Italy, Ireland
and Croatia.