- Title: SPAIN: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Del Bosque worried about Pirlo.
- Date: 3rd June 2012
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (SPANISH) SPAIN COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE, SAYING: "We are used to pressure and of course we will try to rise to the occasion. We know that we defend the title, we are world champions and have an added responsibility. But I don't think it (to win the Euro Cup) is the solution for Spain." NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (SPANISH) SPAIN COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE, TALKING ABOUT CESC FABREGAS' RECOVERY, SAYING: "The doctors saw that he is reasonably in good shape and in the coming days he will join the group but it would be rash for tomorrow but if we need him for the 10th we could use him." MIDFIELDER XAVI HERNANDEZ AND DEFENDER SERGIO RAMOS ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM HERNANDEZ SEATING AT NEWS CONFERENCE CLOSE OF RAMOS / CLOSE OF HERNANDEZ 15 HERNANDEZ AND RAMOS POSING FOR MEDIA 16 ( SOUNDBITE) (SPANISH) SPAIN MIDFIELDER XAVI HERNANDEZ, SAYING: "We know how difficult it is to revalidate this title but we go with all the enthusiasm of the world and we want to make history again. We want this triple that nobody has achieve and enter the history as the best generation of Spain and the world." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (SPANISH) SPAIN DEFENDER SERGIO RAMOS, SAYING: "It is not decided yet. There is always interest in our country, the current situation that goes throw and many things that can happen. We are just the players and obviously it does not depend in us. Maybe if I had to choose something it would be to play near (in Spain) so the fans could enjoy the match. So it would not be necessary to go that far. " NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS JOURNALIST TAKING A PHOTO RAMOS AND HERNANDEZ LEAVING THE NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 18th June 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAA1LI8SA5GAAJ4OPJBUTQLD74D
- Story Text: Spain coach Vicente del Bosque expresses concern about Andrea Pirlo's good form as they prepare to face Italy in Euro 2012.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said on Saturday (June 02) he was concerned about Italy's midfielder Andrea Pirlo good form.
"I do not trust anybody. What we have to do is prepare well regardless of the opponent. I'm really very concerned about China but of course I'm more worry about Pirlo (Andrea). But to get to Pirlo we have to play this game and try to do our best and take the most of it. But I'm worry about Pirlo," Del Bosque told a news conference in Seville previewing Spain's final warm-up match against China on Sunday (June 03).
Spain begin their campaign to become the first country to win back-to-back continental titles with a World Cup in between against Italy on June 10, before meeting Group C rivals Ireland and Croatia.
Del Bosque said that playmaker Cesc Fabregas may have shaken off his hamstring injury in time to feature in Spain's Euro 2012 opener against Italy.
"The doctors saw that he is reasonably in good shape and in the coming days he will join the group but it would be rash for tomorrow but if we need him for the 10th we could use him," the manager said.
Fabregas, who will be rested against China as a precaution, sustained the injury during Barcelona's 3-0 King's Cup final win over Athletic Bilbao last month before he was named in the world champions' 23-man squad to defend their continental title in Poland and Ukraine.
The former Arsenal captain was one of a number of Barca players who ended an intense season carrying injuries and central defender Carles Puyol has been ruled out of Euro 2012 after needing knee surgery.
Visiting the Spanish squad at their training base outside Madrid, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told the players on Friday (June01) the joy the world champions would give the nation by retaining their Euro title would help lift the struggling Iberian nation out of its economic gloom.
Coach del Bosque said he and his players were aware of the wave of euphoria among Spanish soccer fans about the team's prospects but said the European title is not the solution to Spain's economic crisis.
"We are used to pressure and of course we will try to rise to the occasion. We know that we defend the title, we are world champions and have an added responsibility. But I don't think it (to win the Euro Cup) is the solution for Spain," he said.
Midfield orchestrator Xavi, a key player in Spain's triumphs at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, has been suffering from a persistent calf problem but told a separate news conference in Seville he was back to full fitness and ready to make history.
"We know how difficult it is to revalidate this title but we go with all the enthusiasm of the world and we want to make history again. We want this triple that nobody has achieve and enter the history as the best generation of Spain and the world," the Catalan said.
The Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) has agreed a preliminary deal with Chinese promoter United Vansen International Sport for the Spanish Super Cup to take place in Beijing from 2013, the federation said on Friday (June 1).
Spain full back Sergio Ramos said he would prefer Spain to host the final.
"It is not decided yet. There is always interest in our country, the current situation that goes throw and many things that can happen.
We are just the players and obviously it does not depend in us. Maybe if I had to choose something it would be to play near (in Spain) so the fans could enjoy the match. So it would not be necessary to go that far," he said.
The two-legged, season-opening tie, which pits the La Liga champions against the King's Cup holders, will be played in the Bird's Nest stadium in the Chinese capital, the federation said in a statement on their website (www.rfef.es).
They did not publish financial details but Spanish media reported that the deal, which has a seven-year duration and needs approval by the RFEF general assembly, would net the federation around 40 - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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