No fear for Spain in Dutch World Cup clash
By Jim Slater, AFPUpdated June 8, 2014, 1:49 pm
Defending champions Spain will arrive in Brazil optimistic about their chances of a repeat and undaunted by Friday's opening game against the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final.
Melbourne City's guest signing David Villa, Spain's all-time goals leader, lifted his total to 58 with two goals to give his side a 2-0 win over El Salvador in their final warm up match in Washinton on Saturday.
Coming into Brazil - where they face The Netherlands, Chile then Australia in the group stage - as defending champion brings only a sense of pride for Spain, now the target for 31 rivals trying to dethrone them.
"It's important but it doesn't give you any advantage or something like that," Villa said.
"I'm proud of having done it and (I'm going) to work to try to repeat it."
Spain's manager Vicente del Bosque saw some areas he wanted to improve upon after the El Salvador match, as his rivals played a defensive style that took until the 60th minute for Spain to crack for a goal.
"We need to have better creativity, be able to have better chances in the attacking third," del Bosque said.
"We always want to be on the attack and to control the pace of the game."
However he insisted they were not concerned at facing the Dutch first up.
"We don't have any fear. But we do have respect," de Bosque said. "They are runner-up from the last World Cup so we have full respect for Holland.
"We're very optimistic after our training and two friendly matches.
"We are meeting our expectations. We are confident heading into the World Cup."
Spain does not expect to see El Salvador's defensive-minded tactics from World Cup foes, but del Bosque said the victory shows the players are ready to overcome it if necessary.
"That's not what we expect in the World Cup but if we do see that, we're always looking to find space and make the initiative and be attacking the ball," he said.
One area that drew top marks from del Bosque was defence.
"We worked well as a defensive group considering we haven't had a lot of work with the whole group," del Bosque said. "I was pleased with our defence."
https://nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/a-league/news/article/-/24191008/no-fear-for-spain-in-dutch-world-cup-clash/