Monday, March 25, 2013

FIFA World Cup 2014 Busquets: Pressure is on for Spain

Sergio Busquets has said "a great nation is going to miss out on automatic qualification" for the 2014 World Cup and the pressure is on Vicente del Bosque's side as Spain prepare to take on France in a crucial match in Paris.

Spain struggled against Finland and now face a tough game in France

• Hunter: Fear and loathing in Paris
• Analysis: Jordi Alba absence
• Evra wants French 'arrogance'
• Monreal: No room for error

Following France's win over Georgia and Spain's draw with Finland on Friday, the reigning European and world champions trail Les Bleus by two points in Group I.

Although both will have three qualifiers remaining after the match in Paris, it is likely to be decisive in determining which claims top spot - and with it automatic qualification for next year's World Cup in Brazil.

Barcelona's Busquets, 24, is set to take his place in the visitors' midfield and, after seeing France push forward to earn a draw in Madrid in October, said he hoped the advantage Didier Deschamps' men have will not discourage them from being equally adventurous on Tuesday.

"Many teams change their tactics against us," he told Le Parisien. "Sometimes, we'd like to go toe-to-toe with them. It's rare that happens.

"France did it recently, but normally it's our fault if we mess up a game, which goes to show that we're not invincible.

"If we don't win, it'll be difficult to qualify automatically for Brazil. A great nation is going to miss out, but that's the way it is. It often happens with Barca as opponents park the bus. It's frustrating, unjust even. But we're La Roja and the team to beat. When we say 'each game is difficult', it's not just empty rhetoric."

Olivier Giroud struck four minutes into added time at the Vicente Calderon stadium in mid-October to secure a morale-boosting 1-1 draw for France.

As much as the result, the bullish performance convinced the French squad that Spain could be pipped to top spot in the group.

But Busquets said he and his team-mates had played the greatest role in their setback that night and should have sewn the game up earlier on.

"I thought they were passive for the first 45 minutes. We didn't have a problem building play," he said. "We should have killed the game off, but we missed an important penalty.

"We lost the ball stupidly. I was furious after that game. We should have been more intelligent. We should have passed the ball round and killed time.

"But when we lost the ball, we were all up the pitch trying to score. I don't understand our attitude. The match was a failure."

Vicente del Bosque's men are unlikely to make the same mistake again on Tuesday, and Busquets warned fans not to expect to see Spain being gung-ho.

"If we stay solid in defence, we'll have a good chance of winning. I don't see a crazy game. Two goals at most," he said.

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Prandelli admits to Italy doubts

Italy manager Cesare Prandelli has admitted his squad selection is plagued with 'doubts' ahead of the World Cup qualification match against Malta.

Cesare Prandelli admits he is facing a selection dilemma ahead of the Malta clash

Prandelli is yet settle on his best starting XI and is refusing to reveal his line-up until just before kick-off.

"I won't tell you the side," Prandelli said. "I have a doubt between Emanuele Giaccherini and Alessio Cerci and I won't decide until tomorrow, 30 minutes until kick-off.

"(And) I'm convinced that we are not totally ready to play with three forwards.

"We've called up Cerci and Lazio's Antonio Candreva who can both play on the right of the trident. Cerci is more of an attacker, Candreva more of a midfielder. But the doubt remains between Cerci and Giaccherini.

"Alessandro Diamanti? He's having an important season at Bologna, but there are precise roles in the national team, especially when it comes to constructing play.

"I've spoken to him, he likes to start on the right and cut in centrally, but we'll look at other opportunities for now. Cerci is more of an attacker than he is.

"I want to see and understand how our opponents will line up."

However, one change that is expected will be the return of Stephan El Shaarawy, set to resume his partnership with club-mate Mario Balotelli.

"I'm convinced that El Shaarawy can play well in a 4-3-3 or with a four-man midfield," Prandelli said.

"I'm also convinced that he and Mario Balotelli, by playing game after game, can do some really interesting things."

Italy lead Group B only by the solitary point from Bulgaria with only the top side gaining an automatic spot in Brazil 2014.

But 55-year-old is not concerned with the closeness of the group, believing Italy's safe passage to next year's showpiece event will be secured if they continue to build on their recent run of performances, starting with minnows Malta.

"Would I be happy with a 1-0?" Prandelli said. "It depends on how we go about securing it. The points are what matter right now. But I'm convinced that you get results by playing well.

"It's a very delicate game, we have to make sure that we don't offer them space.

"I hope we create as many chances as we did against Brazil.

"To get six points from our next two games - Malta and the Czech Republic - would be of fundamental importance in terms of qualification."

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Evra wants 'arrogance' against Spain

"A little arrogance" is what Patrice Evra believes France require to face up to the challenge posed by Spain on Tuesday and keep Les Bleus ahead of the reigning world and European champions en route to Brazil 2014.

Patrice Evra is desperate to win a title with France

France's 3-1 win over Georgia on Friday and Spain's surprise draw with Finlandmeans Didier Deschamps' men now top Group I, two points clear of La Roja.

Evra, 31, urged his team-mates not to be overawed when they step out at the Stade de France to face a team with which they drew in Madrid in October, but were comprehensively outplayed by in a Euro 2012 quarter-final only last June.

He said: "It's not a final. It's not because we win against Spain or that you draw that we'll be through to the World Cup, that's why I don't like to say it's a final.

"It's a big match, a big occasion. After the first game against them, we have to back that up, while also keeping our feet on the ground. We have to respect Spain, be confident and also have a little arrogance. We're in a good position. The tide is turning our way."

Vicente del Bosque's men arrived at their Paris hotel near the Champs-Elysees on Sunday amid chaotic scenes in the French capital with some 300,000 people demonstrating against proposed laws allowing gay marriage.

Police barricades prevented their team coach dropping the squad off outside the hotel, meaning the players had to ease through a small crowd of supporters gathered to greet them outside the five-star Hotel Bristol, also the temporary abode of David Beckham.

The Spanish squad will be supported by injured goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas, who will jet in to Paris for the game, while Deschamps' men are offering their help to one of their own, Karim Benzema.

Casillas' Real Madrid team-mate was subjected to catcalls and whistles after failing to break his international goalscoring drought of more than 900 minutes against Georgia.

"It's a shame for us, the players, to hear him being whistled at," Blaise Matuidi said, while Yohan Cabaye added: "It's quite a thankless task being a striker because when you don't score, when you get chances and don't put them away, the crowd get on your back. But I have no doubt he'll come through it. We're behind him. He needs to know he has our support."

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Brazil well short of being special

Jose Mourinho was here. If rumours are correct, Stamford Bridge might be hearing more from him soon. Rafa Benitez was here too, though not with Mourinho, funnily enough. Somewhere in the United States, Roman Abramovich was also watching, though not enjoying the hospitality of the FBI as had been rumoured.

While he has not reached the heights of Brazil's best marksmen, Fred has become reliable for Brazil

Two elder statesmen of the game who have accepted the Roman rouble brought their teams to his footballing homestead while its owner enjoyed the match in glorious HD.

Fabio Capello and Luiz Felipe Scolari are the ones who got away from England. Whereas Capello fled on a point of principle related to John Terry, Scolari turned down the England role before he had even started, suggesting the press had cost their country his services. Two proven winners were in London, the scene of their careers' most public reverses.

Scolari must guide his country through the footballing purgatory of being expectant hosts. And hosts don't often enjoy a good run ahead of tournaments. A build-up can only be frustrating when there is little reward but expectation. Brazil hardly lifted expectations higher, though Scolari might remind that his 2002 winners entered the finals in no sort of form.

Unlike a certain successor, Scolari always seemed to enjoy life at Chelsea. "I loved living in London and I feel at home here," he said in the aftermath of a match that can hardly have been too satisfying.

Capello, now of Russia's national team - funded by Abramovich - will have been similarly well-acquainted with his surroundings. He always preferred taking in a London game when coaching England. He lived round the corner.

Indeed, this was a game played like it was a stroll in the park. Two teams played out a glorified training session miles away from their respective homes in front of a tepid atmosphere. Camera phones were out in force and moments of excitement always dripped in the high-pitched voices of confirmed tourists.

Goals were exchanged that neither team had ever looked like scoring. Russia's came when pressure was finally sustained. Victor Fazuylin's was the last of four consecutive attempts on goal. Brazil just could not clear their lines. David Luiz cut a familiarly forlorn figure at his domestic home. Fred's equaliser, barely deserved, though Russia had hardly warranted victory either, came when Marcelo showed off Real Madrid overlapping finery to set up a tap-in for the former Lyon striker.

Scolari stood throughout, Capello rose only when it was time to bark instructions. A wry smile between the two was exchanged on occasion to suggest that all was not being taken wholly seriously.

Capello's Russia are hailed as a step forward from the talented but lax outfit that slipped out of Euro 2012 with a shrug to the Greeks. Their performances in the current qualifying campaign would countenance that view.

Flighty types like Andrei Arshavin and Yuri Zhirkov are out of favour. Though the former Chelsea wing-back was on the bench, Arshavin was nowhere to be seen, omitted by fellow art connoissieur Capello, who has probably seen enough of Arshavin's Arsenal career to know that he is a faded force.

Speaking near-perfect English and visibly more relaxed than when last seen on these shores, Capello was happy and cracking jokes too.

"Is not my problem," he said of England's current campaign. "Tomorrow I will watch France-Spain. It's a different job. It's the same but different. For two reasons. First because the Premier League stops for three months in winter and secondly the language is difficult."

The latter point was delivered with a knowing glint. "Felipao" is still yet to win a game on his return to the job he quit as world champion. Brazil, the factory of world talent, is producing defective goods. The cupboard of credible strikers looks bare.

Hernanes was contained by Russia's defence as Brazil failed to win for the fifth consecutive match

Fred has always been a good finisher, and has scored in his last four Brazil games, but looks too bulky a type to properly lead the line. However, he is still a fine poacher. Though not in the class of Careca, Romario or primetime Luiz Ronaldo to offset his lack of productivity, at least he is reliable.

"I think we are on the right path," said Scolari cheerily enough. "Everybody knows there are no shortcuts for success. You need to win in stages. In each stage we are trying to make improvements."

Neymar is the expected face of Brazil 2014. He needs to fare better on home soil than he usually has in Europe. There were flashes in last summer's Olympics but the final saw him fall flat against the determined skill of Mexico. Wembley last month saw him flatter to deceive in defeat to England. This was another poor dress rehearsal performance. After setting up two of Brazil's goals against Italy in Geneva, he was a disappointment once more.

An early run was stopped in its tracks when he headed straight into traffic. He blew the best chance of the first half for Brazil when slashing horribly wide. Next, over-deliberation and an attempt to trick his way through when pace would have done the job was pointedly unimpressive. European football never offer him the time to show off his wares. Only an 85th minute slalom past three defenders was analogous to his sky-high reputation.

At Wembley, the dying of the light of a former genius in Ronaldinho was on pathetic show. Kaka is not yet so decrepit, but not the player who could lay claim to being the world's best five years ago. A wrecked knee has robbed him of his devastating surge. Brazilians most probably could not care less about the £56 million that Real Madrid paid for him, but they need the player once worth that money back, and badly too.

Kaka could never be anything but a good footballer, but he is no longer special. His lack of distinction is shared by his team 15 months ahead of a tournament where anything less than victory is total failure. Such failure looks highly possible.

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