- Title: Spain ready ahead of crucial qualifier against Italy
- Date: 1st September 2017
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 1, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SPAIN'S NATIONAL TEAM COACH JULEN LOPETEGUI WITH TEAM CAPTAINS ANDRES INIESTA AND SERGIO RAMOS ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS INIESTA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN'S NATIONAL TEAM COACH JULEN LOPETEGUI SAYING: "Of course we are aware of the importance and transcendence of this match, we are not missing that. As you well say, there will be three more matches left after this one, we will have to play them and win them, that's the goal. But in this case, the goal is to play against Italy and beat them. A great Italy collectively and individually and that's we will try to do, to only focus on Saturday's match." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN'S NATIONAL TEAM COACH JULEN LOPETEGUI SAYING: "(Andrea) Belotti is an excellent player who has grown a lot during the last two seasons and he makes a great couple with Inmobile, but not just him. There is Insigne, Candreva and many more players such as Rossi, Verratti. Italy's starting line-up is very important full of important players as it can't be otherwise, same as Spain." RAMOS LISTENING LOPETEGUI LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN'S CAPTAIN SERGIO RAMOS SAYING: "I think is one of the big matches of the national teams. Obviously there are other matches with the same level but it's true that the current Spain and the current Italy are formed by two great teams and I think is a historic match. The matches Italy-Spain, Spain-Italy have always been different so I think we are going to enjoy of the match and hopefully we can say it happily after it ends." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN'S CAPTAIN SERGIO RAMOS, SPEAKING ABOUT STRIKER DIEGO COSTA, SAYING: "Each player has their own way to plan their vacations and plan their life and we just have to respect all the players' decisions. I don't know his ways so I can't make a more concrete opinion. I think Diego is a great striker and if now he has a bit more time to rest he can do it and take advantage of it and when he comes back he has to do it with the same ambition and with the hope of helping the national team." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN'S MIDFIELDER ANDRES INIESTA SAYING: "Verratti is a fundamental player for his national team because how he places himself on the pitch, how he manages the ball and how he passes. We have to watch him when we defend so Italy can't perform their game." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS LOPETEGUI, RAMOS AND INIESTA LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 15th September 2017 13:29
- Keywords: Spain Italy Soccer World Cup Quialifier Madrid
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016WRLTMN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Spain's national team coach Julen Lopetegui said on Friday (September 1) 'La Roja' is aware of the importance of the match when they host Italy in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Madrid on Saturday (September 2) at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid.
The victorious team will take a giant step towards sealing their place in next year's tournament in Russia.
Captain Sergio Ramos said he is looking forward a "historic"match as midfielder Andres Iniesta pointed out the importance of Italy's Marco Verratti for his side.
The two old rivals are locked on 16 points at the top of Group G with four games remaining, winning every game so far aside from their 1-1 draw in Turin last October, although Spain lead the group on superior goal difference.
Spain must overcome their recent struggles against Italy when they host the Azzurri. A win on Saturday would put the 2010 World Cup winners' two further wins from guaranteeing top spot in the group and an automatic place in Russia. Defeat would likely see them finish runners up, which means being placed in the November play-offs, with France and Portugal as potential opponents. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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