Flanks the key to Spanish success

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Flanks the key to Spanish success

Charged with breaking down a packed Honduran defence, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque opted to exploit the wide areas to help his team secure a vital first victory in Group H at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. As a result, Fernando Torres was deployed as a central striker, with David Villa and Jesus Navas flanking him on either side.

And it was via a mazy Villa run and finish, starting from his left-lying position, that the first goal came, with Sevilla youngster Navas also creating plenty of danger from the opposite wing. Thus, while it had been Spain’s left flank which looked the stronger at the FIFA Confederations Cup last year, the European champions now also have a handy attacking outlet on the right.

“Navas gave a great deal of depth to our play,” said Torres after the game. Navas added: “I’ve very happy with my contribution, but what mattered was the win. We may have missed a lot of chances but you’ve got to focus on the positives - we won the game.”

Indeed, as Navas suggested, Spain’s control of possession and constant attacking threat should perhaps have resulted in more than a 2-0 success. “I don’t think that we’ve had a good game. We ought to have won by more goals and I’m not totally happy,” said La Roja coach Del Bosque.

Goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas agreed: “Our finishing improved, we created more chances than against Switzerland, and the goals came. But we’re not happy, we’ve got a sour taste in our mouths. Not because of the football we played, but because we didn’t score many goals and we had a few wobbles at the back.”

Juan Mata, who made his FIFA World Cup debut when coming on for Torres on 70 minutes, said: “We could have got more out of the game but we came up a bit short. In any case, I think the team will get more competitive as we go on. We’re left with the feeling that we should have scored more goals, but what matters is that we won the game.”

Spain face section leaders Chile, who have six points to their three, in a decisive game in Tshwane/Pretoria on 25 June, while Honduras take on Switzerland in Mangaung/Bloemfontein.

“We’ll have time to prepare for the Chile match,” concluded Del Bosque. “Now’s the time to get some rest and draw our conclusions."

Spain vs. South Korea friendly, 1-0

Players of Spain in a World Cup 2010 warm-up match in Innsbruck defeated South Korea with result 1-0.

The only goal in the match has scored a 24-year-old Jesus Navas, in his fifth appearance in the national jersey, from a distance of 25 meters. This is first goal that Naves scored for the Spanish national team.

Coach Vicente del Bosque was not started the match with Spanish biggest stars, but most of them, except Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Iker Casillas, came into game during the match.

On the goal started Pepe Reina, who was replaced at half-time with Barcelona's Victor Valdes, a debutant in the national jersey.

Bradley expects great World Cup

One of the first teams that have landed on the soil of South Africa were the United States. Led by coach Bob Bradley U.S. team have started the final preparations for the 2010 World Cup.

"The World Cup will be played in winter conditions, which is good because every team must play at full strength", said Bradley.

For Bradley and his players such conditions will not be problem, since last May at the Confederations Cup they rolled all the way to the finals, and on that road U.S. team won the European Champions - Spanish team.

"Here we were before, so we know what are the conditions", commented briefly Bradley and spoke about the group with England, Algeria and Slovenia:

"We respects all opponents and aware that both Slovenia and Algeria are great teams. It will be difficult, and the biggest opportunity we see in the opening match against England. We look forward to the beginning of World Cup".