SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Spain and Chile prepare to face each other in final Group H match
Record ID:
452593
SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Spain and Chile prepare to face each other in final Group H match
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Spain and Chile prepare to face each other in final Group H match
- Date: 25th June 2010
- Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 24, 2010) (REUTERS) FIFA POSTER MEDIA CHILE COACH MARCELO BIELSA ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILE COACH MARCELO BIELSA, SAYING "The difficulties that he has are related to the fact that for some time he has not played in official matches. This is something that can be resolved by playing and also by training, but fundamentally by playing proper matches. So it's a difficult situation to resolve. We can't change a training session for an official match." GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILE COACH MARCELO BIELSA, SAYING "To bet on a tie, I see it more complicated than trying to win. For me trying to win is easier than to plan to conserve a tie to not lose." SPAIN COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE SAYING "The Spanish team is well. I think that without lamenting the result with Switzerland we have played two correct matches. We should have one more point, but the situation is as it is and now we are trying to save this situation and move onto the next round." SPANISH PLAYERS XAVI ALONSO AND SERGIO RAMOS SITTING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN MIDFIELDER, XAVI ALONSO, SAYING "Tomorrow there is a lot of pressure. Only victory will be good for us depending on what Switzerland does in their match. We will be ourselves when we play. With our style and personality, take the ball and circulate it. Chile will try to stop us, but we will use our personality on the pitch and play how we have been playing in the last few years." XAVI AND RAMOS LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE SOCCER BALL
- Embargoed: 10th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA133MKX7QYE78OF3UZFAUZZB76
- Story Text: Chile's leading striker Humberto Suazo might not start Friday's (June 25) final Group H match against Spain, coach Marcelo Bielsa hinted on Thursday (June 24).
Suazo has been sidelined for most of the last three months, first with a shoulder injury and then with a pulled hamstring.
He has played only 90 minutes of competitive football in that time -- 45 minutes in a pre-tournament friendly and 45 minutes in Chile's second World Cup group match against Switzerland.
Bielsa declined to say whether Suazo would start in Pretoria but gave a typically cryptic answer to a question at his pre-match news conference, suggesting that Suazo was still not match fit.
"The difficulties that he has are related to the fact that for some time he has not played in official matches," the coach said.
"This is something that can be resolved by playing and also by training, but fundamentally by playing proper matches. So it's a difficult situation to resolve. We can't change a training session for an official match."
Chile need only a draw against Spain, but Bielsa said they would go for the win.
"To bet on a tie, I see it more complicated than trying to win. For me trying to win is easier than to plan to conserve a tie to not lose," he said.
Spain must win to be sure of reaching the knockout stages of the competition.
"The Spanish team is well. I think that without lamenting the result with Switzerland we have played two correct matches. We should have one more point, but the situation is as it is and now we are trying to save this situation and move onto the next round," said Spain Coach Vicente del Bosque.
Spain lost to Switzerland 1-0 and had a 2-0 win over Honduras on Monday (June 21).
As it stands, Chile top Group H on six points from two matches, Spain and Switzerland both have three points in second and third respectively and Honduras have none.
"Tomorrow there is a lot of pressure. Only victory will be good for us depending on what Switzerland does in their match. We will be ourselves when we play. With our style and personality, take the ball and circulate it. Chile will try to stop us, but we will use our personality on the pitch and play how we have been playing in the last few years," said Spain midfielder Xavi.
A win for Spain would put them through to the last 16, where they would likely face either five-times champions Brazil or Portugal, depending on the outcome in Group G. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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