Spain coach denies departure, remains confident in semis

The Associated Press , Vienna | Thu, 06/26/2008 12:01 PM | Headlines

Spain coach Luis Aragones has “full confidence” his team will overcome Russia’s speed and strength for a second time to secure a spot in the European Championship final.

Aragones expects more attacking football in Thursday’s semifinal than in Spain’s previous match against Italy, which the Spaniards won 4-2 in a penalty-kicks shootout following a scoreless draw.

“It’s more open football, which in a way is better for us, but they have players who are tremendously quick in the counterattack,” Aragones said Wednesday. “In a physical aspect, they are the strongest team that we have played, but I have full confidence in the team and that we will make it.

“It will take a terrific effort, but we will get to the final.”

The Spaniards have a big distraction, though.

Turkish club Fenerbahce announced Wednesday it is set to hire Aragones on a two-year contract after Euro 2008, but Aragones denied the deal.

“I don’t understand it because Luis hasn’t signed anything with anyone,” Aragones said.

Asked what the announcement from Fenerbahce would mean for Spain in its preparations for the semifinals, Aragones added: “I don’t think its going to affect the players at all.”

Spain is unbeaten in 20 matches and has won the last 10.

Overachieving Russia won’t ease up now that it has reached the semifinals, especially not when it has the chance to reverse its only bad performance of the tournament.

“You can lean back and say we are happy and have done more than expected and that’s it. I think that’s not the spirit to go into the next game,” Russia coach Guus Hiddink said on the eve of the match at Ernst Happel Stadium.

The Dutchman criticized his players for giving away the ball too easily after losing to Spain 4-1 in the group opener, and they seem to have learned the lesson.

Two weeks later, the Russians have kicked Greece, Sweden and the Netherlands out of the tournament while conceding only one goal.

“It was for us, a first step in a big tournament,” Hiddink said of the loss to Spain. “Amazingly, after that game we made a lot or progress, so I’m proud … to represent a team and the revival of Russian football.”

Spain’s players said they expected a tougher match than in the first game in Innsbruck.

“Russia is not in the semifinals by chance,” fullback Joan Capdevila said. “They played a perfect match against the Netherlands.”

A key part of the difference is that playmaker Andrei Arshavin is back on Hiddink’s team after serving a two-match suspension in the group stage.

“They have seen the return of an important player and that has made them stronger,” midfielder Andres Iniesta said.

Aragones said he was impressed by several Russian players besides Arshavin, including left back Yuri Zhirkov and striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Hiddink will have to pick a team without central defender Denis Kolodin and attacking midfielder Dmitry Torbinski, who are both suspended after picking up their second yellow cards of the tournament against the Netherlands.

Hiddink, who has coached three Spanish clubs, said he admires Spain’s soccer philosophy, which is close to Russia’s.

“I am looking forward to the clash between two teams who both like to play with technical skills and both like to play football,” he said. “And that’s why you cannot predict this result.” (***)

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