Xavi and Alvaro Negredo goals earned a nervy win over
Belarus to take la Roja closer to Brazil, but their coach is concerned with
recent performances
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has admitted his team
struggled to a 2-1 win over Belarus on Friday and is concerned that lacklustre
performances against inferior opposition is becoming something of a pattern.
It took la Roja over an hour to break the deadlock in
Mallorca through Xavi and Alvaro Negredo, but a late goal from Sergey
Kornilenko ensured a nervy finish for the world champions.
While Del Bosque was happy to see his side take another
significant step towards World Cup qualification at the Iberostar stadium, he
conceded they have failed to play their best football during much of their
recent matches.
"It is true that the match seemed a repeat of recent
others we have had," Del Bosque said after the game.
"The games with Finland [in September], Georgia
[last year] and Belarus have been kind of a copy.
"We can't deny we struggled and we couldn't score
until the 15th minute in the second half but we can be satisfied. We carried on
with our spirit after taking the lead.
"The goal they scored complicated the match and it
sowed concern in us because we weren't comfortable.
"But the most important thing is we have taken a
step forward in our aim of trying to qualify for the World Cup."
Del Bosque also explained that he selected Victor Valdes
in goal ahead of regular captain Iker Casillas due to the Real Madrid captain's
lack of playing time this season domestically.
"I have already said we are going to try to act
following logic and common sense," Del Bosque said of his goalkeeper
selection.
"Casillas got injured against Galatasaray and he has
played just one game in these last five weeks, so we believed it was convenient
that Victor took the place.
"This is not significant, we don't say that in the
future he is going to play or not but we keep the incentive for the
others."
Culled from Goal
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