Spain under pressure in the greatest show on Earth

Press, 4 June 1982, Page 15

Spain under pressure in the greatest show on Earth

This article, the fifteenth in a special series, concludes the previews of the 23 nations which are, with New Zealand, contesting the World Cup finals in Spain, starting on June 13.

.Considering Spain’s great influence on European club football, its record in the World Cup is not that’impressive. Great sides such as .■Beal Madrid, Which won the European. Cup five years ruhnin'gifroin 1956, and again in 1966; Barcelona and Atletico' Madrid.-, suggest they come from a first-class soccer nation. ; < . A|as, Spain’s fumbling progress;^‘./international level . does jipt support that view. .Only once has it reached the last four of the World Cup — and that was back- in 1950 when it finished top of a group that included England,, only to slump to the bottom of The final group. In Argentina, four years ago, : it failed to overcome the first hurdle, though it was a shade unlucky not to qualify : for. th&; latter stages Rafter holding;'Brazil.toi a scoreless r'draw. 1 , Now Spain is confident it can put the record straight when it hosts the World Cup finals which start on June 13. It will be playing before its own enthusiastic fans and its group, which comprises Honduras, Northern; Ireland and 'Yugoslavia, ishardly r the .strongest on paper in the competition. Spain’s manager Jose Santamaria. is Uruguayan-born, arid won three European Cup

medals with Real Madrid. He is a fine tactician and has always encouraged the artistic side of the game allied to . the strong physical challenge. One of Spain’s most impressive performances in its warm-up games for the finals was a 3-0 home win over Scotland — though perhaps the scoreline flattered the Spaniards a bit as they only scored two of the goals late in the game. Certainly, it proved that Spain will have few problems in. goal where the agile Luis Arconada is one of the best ’keepers in the world today.. The result proved, too, that Spanish forwards can coun-ter-attack with almost breathtaking skill and pace -with Lopez Ufarte particularly dangerous in. this respect. Spain also achieved a 2-1 victory at Wembley last year — though it did lose 2-0 to England in Barcelona in 1980 when • Trevor Francis and Tony Woodcock punctured the defences. Perhaps the fact that as host it did not have to qualify may prove Spain's biggest i handicap. Though it has played a full programme of friendlies, the bite of true comnetilion has been missing and it will need to find its

cutting edge quickly when it goes into action ... in earnest. In this respect, it is lucky for its opening clash is against the weakest side in the group, Honduras, which it meets in Valencia on June 16.

A sound win in this match should put Spain on its way to qualifying for the next stages though Santamaria says: “I’m a little worried about Northern Ireland in the final match.”

In reply, the Irish manager, Billy Bingham, maintains: “We are not overawed by Spain.” Those fighting words could lead to "a memorable confrontation at Valencia on June 25.

Certainly it would be a shock if Spain did not go through with either Yugosla-

via or Northern Ireland. After that its progress looks more of a gamble, though it should be remembered that three of the last four host countries have landed the golden trophy. The pressure on the

players to do well in front of their home supporters could prove almost intolerable as the competition progresses — and when the likes of the Brazilians arid West Germans have to be faced, it will be -the moment of truth for Santamaria and his merry men.

. The latest betting puts Spain at 6-1, third favourite behind Brazil and West Germany, with Argentina, the world Cup holder, out at 7-1. : That looks a little optimistic, but with Arconada capable of circus-style acrobatics behind a solid defence, the Spaniards are not likely to concede many goals.

Add in the likes of Ufarte and the stormy petrel, Juanito, of Real Madrid, to harry the opposition and there could be fireworks when the greatest sports show on Earth gets under way..

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