GNIEWINO (Poland): Spain are victims of their own success, have become a target for unjustified criticism and people have perhaps forgotten to appreciate what they have, coach Vicente del Bosque on Tuesday.
The world and European champions turned in a below-par performance to edge out Croatia 1-0 on Monday, prompting renewed attacks on Del Bosque’s tactics in Spanish media despite the team reaching the last eight as Euro 2012 Group C winners.
The debate has centred around whether Fernando Torres should lead the line or whether Spain should forego a recognised striker and deploy Cesc Fabregas as a roving forward.
Torres started against Ireland and scored twice in a 4-0 success before making way for Fabregas but was largely ineffective against the well-organised Croats and was replaced by goal-scorer Jesus Navas in the 61st minute.
Del Bosque said he accepted that people did not always agree with his tactical decisions but said he had no reason to change the way Spain play.
“Perhaps expectations are so high now that people will never be satisfied,” the 61-year-old told a news conference at Spain’s training base in Gniewino, northern Poland.
“We have gone from poor to rich so quickly that maybe people don’t value what they have,” he added.
He blamed a “period of extremism” that left no space for a middle ground in the minds of the critics. “Football will decide and put us where we deserve to be,” he said philosophically.
Midfielder Andres Iniesta chipped in with his take on Saturday’s quarter-final against the runners-up of a Group D featuring France, England, co-hosts Ukraine and eliminated Sweden, saying that all three of Spain’s potential opponents had strengths they should be wary of and he was particularly mindful of the quality of players, who could change the game at any moment. (Reuters)