Spain must put faith in proven strategy
Reuters - Thursday 24 June 2010, 02:00
POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, June 24 (Reuters) - Spain must
ignore external criticism and show faith in the playing style
that has served them so well for Friday's showdown against Group
H leaders Chile, according to midfielder Andres Iniesta.
Vicente del Bosque's tactics were questioned by his
predecessor as coach, Luis Aragones, after last week's 1-0
defeat by Switzerland, who suggested the European champions had
not been ambitious enough from the start.
Del Bosque deployed David Villa as a lone striker in that
game and although Spain dominated possession they found it hard
to penetrate their opponent's well-marshalled defence.
He brought Fernando Torres back into the starting lineup in
a two-pronged attack with Villa in Monday's 2-0 defeat of
Honduras and is likely to repeat the tactic against the Chileans
in Pretoria on Friday.
"Everyone has the right to express an opinion and give their
view on how the team is playing," Iniesta told a news conference
at Spain's training base on Wednesday.
"But we can't get dragged into a situation where we have
doubts or into an argument over what one or the other person is
saying," added the midfielder, who looks to be winning his race
to be fit.
"We are clear about what we have to do and are confident
about our chances and anything beyond that is unimportant."
As it stands, Chile top the group on six points from two
matches, Spain and Switzerland both have three points in second
and third respectively and Honduras have none.
A win for Spain, one of the pre-tournament favourites, would
put them through to the last 16, where they will almost
certainly face either five-times champions Brazil or Portugal,
depending on the final standings in Group G.
Ivory Coast still have a chance of qualifying but would need
to thrash North Korea and hope the Portuguese lose to Brazil.
KEY SUSPENSIONS
Chile, who need only a draw to go through, have two key
players suspended -- holding midfielder Carlos Carmona, who
played well in their first two games, and playmaker Matias
Fernandez.
Rodrigo Millar is likely to come back in for Carmona and
Jorge Valdivia is expected to replace Fernandez, playing just
behind Humberto Suazo.
The shaven-headed striker is still shaking off a hamstring
injury but played 45 minutes against Switzerland.
Central defender Waldo Ponce told a news conference on
Wednesday the team were unlikely to sit back, raising the
prospect of an open game with plenty of chances for both sides.
"We've never changed our playing style," Ponce said.
"We play the same way in our friendlies, in the matches
against the reserves here in training and that's the best way to
take on a great team," he added.
"Our coach would never tell us to go out and protect a draw
or play for a draw, because it never works out like that."