Spain coach: Luis Aragones
Jose Luis Aragones Suarez Martinez, 69, is closely associated with Atletico Madrid, where he spent a decade as a player and had four separate spells as a coach.
But he has also coached seven other clubs – Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, Betis, Oviedo, Espanyol and Mallorca – in a career in which he has become known for his short fuse and difficult relations with the media.
Famously unpredictable, he will walk away from the national team for good after Euro 2008, to be succeeded by former Real Madrid coach Vicente Del Bosque.
Spain started poorly in qualification but by the end were playing excellently.
It’s always hard to start well after a World Cup: most of the big teams struggle to get going again. We lost in Belfast and Stockholm, but I didn’t think we were much worse than Northern Ireland or Sweden. Since then, we have been very good. I think Spain have played very well: no defeats in 12 games is a great record. |
In just a few months, you went from being slaughtered to being held up as a hero.
I don’t believe that’s true. I don’t enjoy any more credibility now than I did in 2005, 2003 or 2001. My status hasn’t genuinely changed much. You have to remember that there is one thing the press needs to do above all else: sell papers. They act according to that need. I have been doing this for long enough now to know how it works.
All year there has been a media-led debate about Raul’s inclusion. You must be sick of it.
As I said, I understand the demands of the media. Also, I have explained my thinking on this issue lots of times. I have to be faithful to my own thinking. I understand people asking me about Raul; what I don’t accept is the president of Real Madrid revealing the details of a private conversation with the federation president [in which, according to Madrid’s Ramon Calderon, Angel Maria Villar said he would pick Raul]. That doesn’t say much for Calderon; it tells you a lot about his qualities as a man and as a president.
One of the biggest problems Spain have is the crisis that has gripped Valencia. The case of David Albelda is especially significant.
When Valencia’s players have been with the Spain squad they have played well, whatever their club form. Albelda is a very useful player because he gives us defensive protection and balance. But there are others who can fulfil that role. It’s hard to play for Spain if you are not playing for your club.
Are Spain among the favourites to win the title?
The team have proven their ability. We have a team that can beat the very best but we have to realise that we can also lose against the best sides. There are no great differences between national teams these days – either at the top or the bottom.
So there are reasons to be optimistic?
There are plenty of reasons to believe we can perform well. But what I refuse to do is go shouting out about how great we are. The FIFA ranking says we’re not among the top four teams but among the best seven or eight. That’s a fairly accurate assessment of Spain’s position.
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