Vicente Del Bosque already focused on Spain’s first World Cup final
The final whistle had barely blown on Spain’s first World Cup semi-final win in Durban last night when the boss was already switching his attention to the final.
Vicente Del Bosque was as jubilant as any of his players after Carles Puyol’s 73rd-minute header saw off Germany, but the 59-year-old’s professionalism soon shone through. “Our players carried out their job in a magnificent way,” he said, “but let's think about the game in front of us. We're in good shape physically – let's try to win.”
If Del Bosque is being professional, then it was left to someone else to reveal the post-match delight in the Spanish camp. “We want more,” said midfielder Xabi Alonso, “we've come a long way and now we're in the final. We want to celebrate something really big.
“There were a lot of nerves in the match and afterwards in the dressing room there was euphoria.”
Euphoria for Spain, despair for Germany, but they weren’t bitter about it. “Spain are a wonderful team," said defeated German coach Joachim Löw.
“They are the masters of the game. You can see it in every pass. They can hardly be beaten. They are extremely calm and convincing. Spain were just better than we were and they deserved to win.
“In 2008 they won the European Championships in a very convincing way and they have been unchanged over the past two or three years. They play in an automatic way and I am confident they will win the title.
“They have put on top performances in all matches they have played and they can beat everyone. Over the past two or three years they have been the most skilled team of all. They circulate the ball quickly and we were not able to play like previous matches. We were not able to get rid of our inhibitions.”
Those inhibitions were exploited by the Spanish midfield, who barely wasted a pass on a night when they had 61% of the possession.
“Let's enjoy the final,” said playmaker Xavi, who must have been largely responsible for most of that 61%.
“We dedicate this victory to Spain. If we play on Sunday like we did today, we will have a great chance. We will have to impose our personality and football on them.”
A frightening thought for the Dutch, who are also looking for their very first world crown. If they are to get it, then they will have to snuff out the threat of Spain’s star striker David Villa, who didn’t score last night, but was delighted nonetheless.
“We've shown that in the big moments we can grow even more,” said the Barcelona forward, “we should have scored more goals, but one from Puyol has put us in the final.
“The group deserves this but we want more. We are happy to be in the final, that was our objective, but now we want to be champions.”
They know how tough a task that will be though, especially against the impressive Dutch.
“The Netherlands have a lot of good players – Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder – and we have to try to stop them,” said Gerard Piqué, Puyol’s central defensive partner.
“But at the same time we need to play our game, to pass the ball around like we know we can, and create chances. Sometimes we can overplay it, and we don't shoot on goal enough. But I think that at the moment we are on a great run and if the opposition do not score, one goal is enough to win the game.”
It’ll be enough to win the final too.
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