Del Bosque: Pressure on Spain

(GSM) – Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has revealed that Spain are under pressure to perform with the weight of expectation on them following their fractured 2-1 win over Chile.

World Cup favourites and European champions Spain face rivals Portugal on Monday as they look for a place in the quarter-finals in South Africa.

But so far the side has failed to click in the tournament.

“There’s a lot of pressure in the World Cup,” said 59-year-old Del Bosque.

“We know what people expect in Spain and we’re trying to give our all. Let’s see what we achieve.”

However, the former Real Madrid boss added after brilliantly-executed goals from David Villa and fit-again Andres Iniesta proved the difference against 10-man Chile: “The most important thing was to get these three points and qualify.”

Spain were under pressure to ensure progress after a shock opening defeat to Switzerland, but a 2-0 win over Honduras and the victory over Chile meant they eventually finished as winners of Group H.

“We have reacted to a very difficult situation and have done well,” reflected Del Bosque, who warned that Iberian neighbours Portugal would prove difficult opposition up next.

“We know there are no easy games. We want to do well.”

Del Bosque also stressed that Fernando Torres had been replaced after 60 minutes purely as a precaution, and that the Liverpool striker had not suffered a recurrence of the knee injury which caused him to undergo surgery twice in recent months.

“He felt a spot of muscular bother, nothing to do with his knee injury,” the Spain boss stated.