FINLAND: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Finland coach says facing Spain is like David versus Goliath

Record ID: 808866

  • Title: FINLAND: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Finland coach says facing Spain is like David versus Goliath
  • Date: 6th September 2013
  • Summary: HELSINKI, FINLAND (SEPTEMBER 5, 2013) (REUTERS) HELSINKI STADIUM SPANISH GOAL KEEPER IKER CASILLAS SITTING ON TEAM BENCH PLAYERS RUNNING PLAYER STRETCHING CASILLAS WARMING UP ANDRE INIESTA GETTING A VEST CASILLAS IN TRAINING JORDI ALBA GETTING A BALL TEAM PRACTISING SPANISH HEAD COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE WATCHING XAVI HERNANDEZ FOLLOWING THE BALL XAVI AND INIESTA IN ACTI
  • Embargoed: 21st September 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Finland
  • Country: Finland
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEYO5MPVVA7MXAT0PZX3AVAGDL
  • Story Text: World champions Spain should keep their grip on Group I, which they lead by one point from France, when they play hosts Finland in Helsinki on Friday (September 6) in a match which is being billed David and Goliath.
    Spain coach Vicente del Bosque is missing several key performers for the World Cup Group I qualifier but one player who will be available comes into the match in a rich vein of form.
    Cesc Fabregas has impressed for Barcelona during the opening weeks of the La Liga season and could make the difference for the world and European champions as they seek to maintain their grip on top spot ahead of France and take a step closer to securing an automatic berth at next year's tournament in Brazil.
    The 26-year-old former Arsenal captain has made five assists in his three league appearances this term and Del Bosque will look to him to help unlock Finland's stubborn defence.
    Del Bosque also has to choose between goalkeepers Iker Casillas and Victor Valdes.
    Spain struggled in their qualifier against them in Gijon in March, taking a 1-0 lead through centre back Sergio Ramos before conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1.
    Del Bosque has often deployed Fabregas, who has played 83 times for Spain, as a so-called "false nine", foregoing a traditional striker and using him in a roving forward role that is tricky to defend against.
    Del Bosque's main concern is the absence of midfield stalwarts Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso, who are injured along with Javi Martinez.
    Javi Garcia and Mario Suarez are in the squad as cover and could get the chance to impress their coach and improve their chances of selection for next year's finals.
    With Gerard Pique suspended, Raul Albiol will probably partner Ramos in central defence, or Del Bosque may opt to give 23-year-old Ignacio Fernandez, who plays with Ramos at Real, his first cap for the senior side.
    Finland, ranked 65 in the world and bidding to qualify for the finals of a World Cup for the first time, are third in the group, four points behind the French, who play minnows Georgia in Tbilisi on Friday.
    Finland coach Mixu Paatelainen said Friday's match was a "David and Goliath" scenario and what happened in Gijon was already in the past.
    "We are the footballing minnows if you like, and we play against the best national team in the world. Yes, Spain competes against Brazil in the Confederations Cup final, but you know in my mind they are still in the best national team in the world. So taking these positions, how these countries are in footballing world, there is a David and Goliath set-up if you like. But you know the minnows can surprise the big teams like we did in Gijon. Of course that was a result and a match in the past, and we don't rely on the performance. This is a new adventure, this is a totally new match and we have to do what we have to do again to obtain the result that we want to obtain from this match," he told a news conference.
    The task facing Paatelainen's young squad has been made even harder due to the absence of Chievo Verona midfielder Perparim Hetemaj through suspension.
    Captain Niklas Moisander said there were many things to watch out for when playing against Spain.
    "I think the moment when we are attacking and if we lose the ball, that's really dangerous because that's where Spain is good, that's where the best teams in the world are good at the moment to transform that situation to an attack so we have to be careful when we are attacking so we don't give them too much space to counter," he said.
    Paatelainen is not throwing in the towel and believes Finland can steal a place in the playoffs.
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