Spain’s Carles Puyol (left), Cesc Fabregas (centre) and Gerard Pique (right) share a smile during a training session at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha yesterday. The World and European champions Spain will play a friendly against Uruguay at the same venue today, in which Puyol is set to make his 100th cap. Kick-off time is at 9.00pm. PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL
DOHA: Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque said his team will be wary of the threats posed by Uruguay when the two regional champions clash in Doha today.
Speaking in a press conference before conducting a training session at Khalifa International Stadium yesterday, Del Bosque said: “Uruguay are an organised team who plays with intensity. They know how to pass the ball because they are known to look up.”
He added: “Their strikers are very dangerous who have a lot of speed and do not hide their eagerness to score goals. Their team is very organised, and their defenders are really good and powerful when going forward.”
The Spaniard, who will take charge for the 68th time – a record-equalling tally for a Spanish national team coach, hopes Spain rise to the occasion and put in a performance that is worthy of the World and European champions tag.
The 62-year-old, who took over as national coach in 2008, said: “I hope Spain show why they are World and European champions, and rise to the occasion.”
The World and European champions, who are on a 17-match unbeaten run that stretches back to November 2011, will feature Carles Puyol, who is set to become the seventh national player to reach 100 caps today.
Former Real Madrid coach Del Bosque had nothing but praise for the 34-year-old defender, who missed Spain’s triumph at the 2012 European Championships last summer.
“Puyol is a key player in the game. I am really happy he will be playing 100 games tomorrow (today),” he said.
He added: “He has been a player who has set an example on and off the field.”
With nine Barcelona players in Del Bosque’s squad, the coach said his players represent the country and not their clubs when they wear the Spanish jersey.
“I’m Real Madrid and I have never hidden that. Barcelona have greater representation influences because the selection is a reflection of the clubs. We together represent Spain, not the team,” he told journalists.
Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo also hailed Puyol’s achievement on reaching the landmark.
The Sevilla striker, who made his debut in Spain’s 2-1 win over European minnows Armenia in 2009 said: “For him to make it to 100 games is incredible. He has worked a lot and he deserves it.”
Del Bosque said his squad met with Spanish legend Raul, who is currently playing for Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League.
“It was a nice visit. We gave a shirt to his children,” said Del Bosque, whose side will be without midfielders Xavi, Xabi Alonso and goalkeeper captain Iker Casillas for today’s match.
Meanwhile, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said his team will be taking today’s match seriously in what will be the ninth meeting between the two countries.
“We know our objectives for this match and this is an important match,” said Tabarez, who guided Uruguay to their 15th Copa America title in 2011 after beating Paraguay 3-0 in the final, held in Argentina.
Despite going into tonight’s match as Copa America champions, Uruguay have only just won one of their last six matches, which came against Poland in a friendly.
The South American’s dismal form means that they are in fifth position in the South American qualifiying group for the next World Cup to be held in Brazil in 2014.
However, Tabarez believes Uruguay’s attacking trio of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, Internacional’s Diego Forlan and Napoli’s Edilson Cavani have the potential to cause trouble for the Spanish defence if all three are selected.
He said: “We have a player (Cavani) who is the top scorer in Italy. We also have Suarez who is doing really well in the English Premier League. We will try to do our best in the match.”
The last time Uruguay played all three strikers was in a 3-0 defeat to Argentina in October 2012.
The Uruguayan coach, who will be without midfielder Gaston Ramirez for the match at Khalifa International Stadium today, said it was too early if today’s opponents Spain could defend their World Cup title next year.
Speaking of the Confederations Cup, where the two nations will meet in Brazil in June, Tabarez said although the Confederations Cup is important, qualification to next year’s showpiece event is the priority.
The coach who managed Italian giants AC Milan in 1996, said: “The Confederations Cup is very important to us and it is also a motivation factor for us. But the priority is to qualify for the World Cup.”
Spain has the better head-to-head record with three victories, with their most recent in 2005.
THE PENINSULA
