Euro 2012: Del Bosque says Spain must do better
After coming under fire for sending out a striker-less formation in their opening Euro 2012 1-1 draw with Italy, the coach of defending champions Spain, Vicente del Bosque, admits his team must do better.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 12, 2012 10:45 PM IST
After coming under fire for sending out a striker-less formation in their opening Euro 2012 1-1 draw with Italy, the coach of defending champions Spain, Vicente del Bosque, admits his team must do better.
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"I am not happy about everything that happened against Italy - there are things we must improve," said del Bosque, who said it might just be he had to look at his tactics.
"But I am not unhappy with the options we have," del Bosque told Spanish media outlets Cuatro TV and Radio Onda Madrid.
Del Bosque happily waded into the debate on why he did not see fit to play a main striker against the Italians - midfielder Cesc Fabregas' equaliser got his side out of jail.
"We had four options - the three everyone was aware of (strikers Alvaro Negredo, Fernando Torres or Fernando Llorente) and then that of Cesc. Those are all very good attacking solutions," he insisted.
Del Bosque added that Spain's midfield is so gifted that its members can double as forwards in any case.
"(David) Silva is a forward; Andres (Iniesta) plays like a forward, so does Cesc," he insisted, adding that the deeper-lying Xabi Alonso and Xavi will also take on shooting duties on occasion.
Del Bosque said if it came to it he would do without a classic centre forward again.
"The only thing that interests us is what is in the interest of the team. The opinions of others surely have interests distinct from our own."
Even so, with a win over the Republic of Ireland required to kick-start their campaign on Thursday in Gdansk he intimated Torres might expect to get a greater slice of the action than the 17 minutes he was afforded in the first match, while offering a small caveat.
"Against Ireland we will play with a number nine, of course - though it depends what you understand by a number nine. We have 48 hours ahead of us and then we will decide," said the former Real Madrid coach cryptically, denying he was annoyed with his team and welcoming the "debate.".
Del Bosque insisted that "I am flexible and a good listener. Sometimes, if you have to give so many explanations, it's because maybe you are the one who is wrong."