Madrid - The Spanish media on Sunday praised the national
football team for its the new record of 15 consecutive victories and
appeared hopeful that 'La Seleccion' can go on and win the
Confederations Cup.
Spain established the new record by beating hosts South Africa 2-0
in Bloemfontein on Saturday, with their habitual slick possession
football - and goals from David Villa and Fernando Llorente.
The authoritative win leaves 'La Seleccion' top of Group 1 and in
the semi-finals, where they will meet the second team in Group 2,
again in Bloemfontein.
The previous record of 14 straight international wins was
established by Australia, between 1996 and 1997.
The latest achievement of 'La Seleccion' made the front-page of
most Spanish newspapers on Sunday.
'Spain: A World Record' is the headline in sports daily AS, which
quotes coach Vicente del Bosque as saying that 'this team will beat
more records.'
Rival daily Marca comments that 'this is the best ever Spanish
national team ... and the best national team in the world right now.'
Catalan paper Sport, for its part, says that 'Spain should really
go on to win the tournament now.'
El Pais singles out Villa for special praise. The Euro 2008 top
scorer is caught in the middle of an ugly transfer tug-of-war between
Valencia and Real Madrid. He missed a penalty against South Africa,
'but straight away showed his character by opening the scoring with
another of his classy goals.'
Villa is now second in the list of Spain's all-time international
goalscorers with 31 goals, 13 behind top-of-the-list Raul of Real
Madrid, who has not been picked since 2006.
El Mundo, for its part, comments that 'winning has become a habit
for this team', and that 'it will be difficult for anyone to beat
them, because of the way that they hold on to the ball.'
Spain's winning run started in the semi-finals of Euro 2008 a year
ago, against Russia. They then beat Germany in the final in Vienna,
which was the last game in charge for Luis Aragones, who left for
Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
Del Bosque took over from him last July and has continued
the winning run, by wisely sticking with the same players, possession
style and 4-4-2 formation.
Unless Spain lose in the semi-finals, they will establish a second
record: of 36 games unbeaten, dating back to 2006.
The current record of 35 games unbeaten is held by Brazil, from
1993 to 1996.
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