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Spain take positives from low-key win

Despite looking below their best in a final warm-up game against the United States, coach Luis Aragonés still has faith in Spain's chances at UEFA EURO 2008™.

Spain coach Luis Aragonés (right) feels striker Fernando Torres needs better service
Spain coach Luis Aragonés (right) feels striker Fernando Torres needs better service ©Getty Images

Spain's low-key victory over the United States in Santander may have added another notch to their impressive recent record, but it left doubts and for coach Luis Aragonés it also left a slightly sour taste in his mouth.

Positive trajectory
Aragonés, who will celebrate his 70th birthday next month, now has 33 wins and only four defeats in 48 matches with Spain but he was irked by fans whistling the team's performance, disappointed by the service offered to lone striker Fernando Torres and concerned by his side's physical state. However, the Madrileño refused to look or sound jittery about the final 90 minutes before the real action starts in Innsbruck on Tuesday in their Group D opener against Russia. In fact, the Spanish coach urged his players to believe that they remain on a positive trajectory with everything to play for.

Torres isolated
"The fact is we'll be able to achieve very little in the tournament if we only show the rhythm of the first half against the US," Aragonés said. "During those 45 minutes, Torres looked like he was an island adrift from the team up front – that wasn't good to see. Our tempo was low and you could hear that it upset the fans. But the key fact was that we kept working, used the wings more and gradually showed our superior fitness which eventually allowed us to dominate the match and score the winner."

Optimistic analysis
Coaches are often troubled by the dilemma over whether the glass is half full or half empty and Aragonés chose the former, optimistic, analysis of the fact his team dominated almost 70 per cent of possession but only had eight attempts on goal, scoring once. "Despite the control of the ball we wouldn't have caught any team out in the first half because we used it slowly," he added. "But in the second half, we were crisper and quicker with our use of possession and I could easily see which players are a little jaded and which guys are right on their game."

Confident stars
Although they had very different nights, both Torres and goalscorer Xavi Hérnandez agreed with their manager that there remains much to be positive about. "The buzz around the camp is absolutely unbeatable as we set off for the European Championship," confirmed the FC Barcelona midfielder. "We've added this tough victory to a long string of good results and I think the overall philosophy of the squad is excellent. It was a big effort to open the US up and carve out a win but it was worth it." 

Quicker movement needed
Liverpool FC striker Torres added: "These are the nights when you look to gain confidence and rhythm and I'm having to adapt to the style of play which Luis has demanded of me. We have the quality to win the tournament but we still require quicker and more direct movement of the ball to the strikers."