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 Uefa Euro 2012™ Group C winners.
The debate has centreed 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 quarterfinal 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."
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