2014 WORLD CUP: Del Bosque accepts he may soon become a history man
RIO DE JANEIRO: Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque is aware that his own tenure as manager of outgoing world champions Spain is likely to come to an end as they set about rebuilding for the forthcoming European Championship defence.
Spain became the first World Cup holders to see their grip on the trophy removed after only two games as they subsided 5-1 to Holland and then by 2-0 to Chile.
Chile have now qualified from Group B along with Holland after goals from Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz. Holland have the better goal difference so Chile need to beat the Dutch in their concluding group game to avoid, probably, Brazil in the second round.
Del Bosque said he need to take time to think about his own future and “what is good for Spanish football”.
He said: “It’s true that when such things happen during a World Cup or a tournament like this then it has consequences but I don’t want to start thinking about that right now. We have time to analyse that and it is not the right time now.
Thinking time
“There will be time to think and reflect what we are going to do. I think this team is good but we have to take a decision about what is good for Spanish football and that applies to myself as well.”
Del Bosque said Spain had been too timid against Chile in a first half they ended 2-0 down.
He added: “In the first half we were really shy and sluggish and not brave enough so Chile were able to put the pressure on us.
“In the second half we had more space and some chances but I am trying to find excuses – we played worse than Chile and Holland and so we have lost.”
Chile sympathy
Chile’s Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli – who also led them to a 2-0 win over England at Wembley last year – had sympathetic words for Spain.
He said: “In football everything changes. Spain has played very well over the years and had wonderful performances but today that generation of players couldn’t keep that success going, and that’s normal because success is not forever.”
As for the next game, Sampaoli said: “Against Holland we will have the same approach knowing we need to win to be first in our group.
“If we don’t win against Holland we will probably have to play Brazil if they win against Cameroon.
“Considering our performances the most important thing is to play as a team – and that’s why we have been so dangerous and have had such good results.”
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