SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Spain aim to get campaign back on track against Honduras

Record ID: 452811

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Spain aim to get campaign back on track against Honduras
  • Date: 21st June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 20, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SPANISH TEAM ENTERING ELLIS PARK STADIUM FOR TRAINING GOALKEEPER IKER CASILLAS BOUNCING BALL STRIKER DAVID VILLA TALKING TO MIDFIELDER XAVI DURING TRAINING PLAYERS WARMING UP CASILLAS AND SUBSTITUTE KEEPER PEPE REINA PRACTICING WITH BALL MORE OF PLAYERS EXERCISING COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE ON PITCH PLAYERS PLAYING TRAINING MATCH DEFENDER SERGIO RAMOS IN TRAINING MATCH DEL BOSQUE WATCHING MORE OF TRAINING MATCH PLAYERS ON PITCH DEL BOSQUE ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALIST TYPING WORKING ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE, SAYING: "We won't be changing our game at all in terms of what we've been doing for the last two years and in terms of our style of play. We have to be more accurate in finishing and converting chances but in terms of pressure, moving the ball, creating spaces and opportunities. I think we will offer the same style that we offered against Switzerland. "I think there is a permanent imbalance here in this World Cup, we're seeing this day after day, it's not easy to be superior, most teams are very much in tune and they're playing very well, they're not giving away opportunities. Collective action, individual action, all of this has to be brought together so we can be better than our rivals and we are seeing in this World Cup that that is not easy." JOURNALIST WORKING DEFENDER CARLES PUYOL (RIGHT) AND GOALKEEPER REINA (LEFT) ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN DEFENDER CARLES PUYOL, SAYING: "We don't have any doubts at all, we know that this is football, anything can happen, but as I said earlier, our team played a good game we didn't play a bad game, and we're going to continue along that line. We're going to improve a few things of course, but from day one we've always said that we're at a peak, there are other sides that are perhaps greater favourites than us, we of course respect all our rivals and we can't control what's being said." PUYOL AND REINA LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAE9M1WB0CYB23GTKVEV4UDNWNW
  • Story Text: Spain will hope to get their World Cup dream back on track in a must-win game against Honduras on Monday (June 21).
    The pre-tournament favourites will require all three points against the Central Americans after losing their opening match against Switzerland, especially as their final group match will be against tough opponents in South American side Chile.
    Team coach Vicente Del Bosque said the side is hungry to show what it can do following the disappointment of the first match.
    "We won't be changing our game at all in terms of what we've been doing for the last two years and in terms of our style of play. We have to be more accurate in finishing and converting chances but in terms of pressure, moving the ball, creating spaces and opportunities. I think we will offer the same style that we offered against Switzerland," he said.
    "I think there is a permanent imbalance here in this World Cup, we're seeing this day after day, it's not easy to be superior, most teams are very much in tune and they're playing very well," he added.
    Defender Carles Puyol denied the team was feeling nervous ahead of their next match.
    "We don't have any doubts at all, we know that this is football, anything can happen, but as I said earlier, our team played a good game, we didn't play a bad game, and we're going to continue along that line," he said.
    Spain will be hoping to score plenty of goals to secure a commanding goal difference as the side is in danger of an early exit should they fail to manage picking up the remaining six points on offer in their group matches.
    Even winning both matches may see them lose out if the Chileans beat the Swiss and the Swiss defeat Honduras with healthy goal tallies in their favour.
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