Del Bosque: it’s our duty to light up World Cup

SPAIN coach Vicente del Bosque heads into his team’s opening Group H game today against Switzerland believing South Africa’s tournament can still be remembered as the best World Cup of all time.

Del Bosque said yesterday he and his players feel a sense of responsibility to make the tournament a success so the people in the host country, and all of Africa, have something to be proud of.

A slow start to the tournament has seen few memorable matches, complaints about the ball, and a shortage of goals, compared to previous World Cups.

But Del Bosque said: “We have to be positive. I want to be very optimistic.

“We have to help because this is the first World Cup in Africa.

“So if there are any logistical problems or any other issues, we have to just cooperate so that this World Cup is the best ever.”

Spain head into the tournament as reigning European champions and are among the favourites for the title.

“It’s difficult to get away from the view of the outside,” said Del Bosque. “There’s an optimism as if we were going to play the World Cup final now.

“But fortunately, we have players that are aware of the reality and not of utopia. Players that know what football is like.”

Del Bosque is just happy to have all of his players available for the tournament. Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta all suffered injuries in recent months but have recovered.

“It’s a good day for us,” said Del Bosque. “I have 23 players who are all in perfect condition.

“We are ready to start this World Cup.”

Del Bosque could leave Barcelona star Andres Iniesta out of his starting XI for today’s game despite the player having shaken off a muscular injury.

“Iniesta trained yesterday and today,” Del Bosque, who is set to start with Barcelona’s new boy David Villa as the lone striker, with Liverpool’s Fernando Torres starting on the bench, said. “We will talk to the doctors and decide what is best.

“We have to think about the future, not just about tomorrow.”

Spain, who won all of their warm-up games before travelling to South Africa, will not take Switzerland lightly.

“With the exception of the Germany game, this has been a very level World Cup,” said Del Bosque. “There have been few differences between teams and there are many candidates for the title.

“We know Switzerland. We know they have qualified directly.

“It’s a team that have been working for many years together, they have good organising skills and a great coach. We respect them enormously.”

For his part, Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld showered Spain with praise yesterday but insisted the European champions are beatable.

“Spain are one of the favourites to win the title but we have nothing to lose,” he said.

“This is great opportunity for us. We could be one of the teams that could make one of the favourites tumble.

“The probability is there.

“Every player of the Swiss team has an opportunity to showcase his talent.

“At one point we are going to beat Spain and why not tomorrow?!”

Nevertheless, the veteran German is in awe of his team’s first opponents.

“Spain has a team of the century,” said Hitzfeld.

“They have incredible talents, an enormous selection of skilful players.

“They are very compact, they can focus on attack, but they are virtually perfect at the defensive end.

“They just don’t focus on scoring goals but also on being organised in every line.”

Hitzfeld will be forced to make changes to his team with news that captain Alexander Frei and Valon Behrami will play no part.

Frei has an ankle injury and is set to be replaced in attack by Eren Derdiyok, while West Ham midfielder Behrami has a thigh problem.