Saturday, June 26, 2010

World Cup 2010: Spain feel under pressure - Del Bosque

Coach Vicente del Bosque admits Spain are feeling the weight of expectation after edging into the last 16 of the with a fractured 2-1 win over Chile.

World Cup favourites Spain face Portugal on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals in South Africa but have still to click in the tournament.

"There's a lot of pressure in the World Cup," said 59-year-old Del Bosque.

"We know what people expect in Spain and we're trying to give our all. Let's see what we achieve."
The former Real Madrid boss added after brilliantly-executed goals from David Villa and fit-again Andres Iniesta proved the difference against 10-man Chile: "The most important thing was to get these three points and qualify."
   
Spain were under pressure to ensure progress after a shock opening defeat to Switzerland, but a 2-0 win over Honduras and the victory over Chile meant they eventually finished as winners of Group H.

"We have reacted to a very difficult situation and have done well," reflected Del Bosque, who warned that Iberian neighbours Portugal would prove difficult opposition up next.

"We know there are no easy games. We want to do well."

Del Bosque also stressed that Fernando Torres had been replaced after 60 minutes purely as a precaution, and that the Liverpool striker had not suffered a recurrence of the knee injury which caused him to undergo surgery twice in recent months.

"He felt a spot of muscular bother, nothing to do with his knee injury," the Spain boss stated.

Barcelona's Iniesta, who returned to the side after missing the Honduras match, agreed with Del Bosque that Spain's next match would be tricky - although by finishing top the European champions have avoid a last-16 tie with Brazil, the team considered to be their main rivals in South Africa.

"We have a unique opportunity," Iniesta commented. "The team has demonstrated a good attitude. The draw with Portugal is difficult."

Defender Joan Capdevila claimed Spain are well equipped for the knockout stages in South Africa after losing their first game of the tournament.

"We did something that was pretty difficult," Capdevila said. "We're more united than ever. We have recovered mentally [from Switzerland]."

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