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| Vicente Del Bosque refuses to commit to Spain beyond World Cup | Vicente Del Bosque refuses to commit to Spain beyond World Cup |
| (2 months later) | |
| Vicente del Bosque has refused to commit his future to the Spanish national team after the World Cup. The Spain manager, in an unscheduled appearance that hinted at a departure, said a decision had not yet been taken on his future but that he would not be an obstacle for the federation. He also admitted he had been surprised at his team’s elimination, describing it as “unthinkable”. | |
| “This is not the time to talk about my future,” Del Bosque said. “Nothing has been decided about the future. No decision has been made [but] it will be made for the good of the team and the federation. All I want is for Spanish football to continue working well. If I am an obstacle, I will go. I want to be comfortable and I want [the federation] to be comfortable.” | “This is not the time to talk about my future,” Del Bosque said. “Nothing has been decided about the future. No decision has been made [but] it will be made for the good of the team and the federation. All I want is for Spanish football to continue working well. If I am an obstacle, I will go. I want to be comfortable and I want [the federation] to be comfortable.” |
| This was a theme to which Del Bosque returned often, repeating the phrase a number of times. The Spanish Football Federation’s spokesman, Jorge Pérez, had previously said: “We are behind him. If we have the best coach why would we change? I want him to stay.” But Del Bosque appeared keen above all to put the question off until after the World Cup, at one point noting that once the Australia game is out of the way there would not be another game until September. | This was a theme to which Del Bosque returned often, repeating the phrase a number of times. The Spanish Football Federation’s spokesman, Jorge Pérez, had previously said: “We are behind him. If we have the best coach why would we change? I want him to stay.” But Del Bosque appeared keen above all to put the question off until after the World Cup, at one point noting that once the Australia game is out of the way there would not be another game until September. |
| His appearance here was unscheduled and seemed designed to calm the atmosphere and gain time. At one point he was asked about whether this was the end of an era, a question ostensibly related to the players but one which prompted him to note: “That’s a question with a double meaning.” | His appearance here was unscheduled and seemed designed to calm the atmosphere and gain time. At one point he was asked about whether this was the end of an era, a question ostensibly related to the players but one which prompted him to note: “That’s a question with a double meaning.” |
| When Santi Cazorla was asked about Del Bosque’s future, he replied: “It is his decision and we will support him whatever he decides. He has been with us a long time, we have won good things with him and we will back him. It is his decision and we will support him whatever he decides. I think Spain has hope for the future but let’s wait to see [on the manager]. | When Santi Cazorla was asked about Del Bosque’s future, he replied: “It is his decision and we will support him whatever he decides. He has been with us a long time, we have won good things with him and we will back him. It is his decision and we will support him whatever he decides. I think Spain has hope for the future but let’s wait to see [on the manager]. |
| There was little enthusiasm or energy in Del Bosque’s tone and he seemed at a loss to offer or seek solutions. | There was little enthusiasm or energy in Del Bosque’s tone and he seemed at a loss to offer or seek solutions. |
| “From the inside, doing the work day after day that we have been doing, this was unthinkable,” Del Bosque said, stressing the word unthinkable. He was quick to avoid suggestions that the explanation could be found in attitude, ambition or the relationship between the players. “You can look for this reason or that one,” he said, “but the reasons are purely footballing ones.” | “From the inside, doing the work day after day that we have been doing, this was unthinkable,” Del Bosque said, stressing the word unthinkable. He was quick to avoid suggestions that the explanation could be found in attitude, ambition or the relationship between the players. “You can look for this reason or that one,” he said, “but the reasons are purely footballing ones.” |
| “All of the players were well below their normal level, all of them,” Del Bosque said. “All of them, from the first player to the last. We were almost trying to get rid of the ball. There was a nervousness, a timidity. We were not ourselves.” | “All of the players were well below their normal level, all of them,” Del Bosque said. “All of them, from the first player to the last. We were almost trying to get rid of the ball. There was a nervousness, a timidity. We were not ourselves.” |
| “We’re still in the competition, we are preparing for the third game. I don’t think this is the time to talk about my future.” | “We’re still in the competition, we are preparing for the third game. I don’t think this is the time to talk about my future.” |