Vilda: Spain talent is shining through

Spain coach Jorge Vilda
The first half in particular [was key]. England got players forward but we were able to defend and wait for our opportunities. That's why we had to keep things tight and at times sit very deep, but we were able to neutralise their attack and then every time we got the ball, we created some danger.

Getting to half-time at 1-0 gives you a degree of confidence. We didn't want to settle for that and in the second half we stepped up and increased the pressure and that was the key – we went after them, started passing it better and then the goals came. We have players who are really gifted technically and it up to us to use that talent, help them make the most of it. We work on it in training and until now it's worked out really well for us and they're enjoying their football a lot.

The players are happy because we've qualified for the World Cup. It was an objective we had but it seemed far away but now we've got it in our pocket. As soon as the game was over they were asking who had won the other semi-final and once they heard Germany they were happy because if there's any team you want to beat in a final to win the European title, it's Germany.

[On having beaten Germany in the group stage] No two games are ever the same. I expect a much closer game. They will be hurting from that result and will be really up for it. We have to know how to play the match, we can't forget they are always the favourites and still are but the gap is closer.

England coach Lois Fidler
Their pace and mobility was a little bit of a telling factor for us and that's something we'll look at and work on. It was a different test from the other games we've faced with the kind of players the Spanish have got presenting different challenges. I want to congratulate the Spanish and wish them the best of luck in the final but I would like to think that they thought they were in a game today.

We were trying to encourage the players to not be intimidated by the pace and to play to our strengths. Our whole back four and the team as a whole were very disciplined and competitive in terms of their defending roles, they got tight and put in some good challenges.

What was the difference between the two sides? I think they were clinical with their finishing, their pace and athleticism sometimes unpicked us but that's more about our players learning in terms of their start position and how they function as a back four. And how they deal with that moving forward which will be nothing other than a valuable lesson for them.

I feel we were unlucky not to get something out of our first game against Italy [a 1-0 defeat] so we'll be going out twofold – to prove a point and to take what we want which is a podium finish and qualification for Costa Rica.