La Roja Travelin’, Chattin’, and Trainin’

The boys landed in Donetsk today around noon and then it was off to pressers for some, Arbeloa, Iniesta, Negredo, & VdB, and then the team trained for the last time before the semifinal in an hour long night session.

Arbeloa:

On if he’s had a chance to meet up with Cristiano – “No I haven’t spoken to him, I will probably speak to him tomorrow when I see him. We all know how well he is playing at these Euros. It is very hard to play against him, he is very confident, he is playing very well, but we will try to stop him.”

“Of course, you have to be mentally and physically prepared to play against someone like him. He is one of the best players in the world, so you have to be on top of your game. I know how hard it will be to stop him for 90 minutes, but it will be a beautiful challenge for me. I want to measure myself against the best in the world and it’s a great challenge to face him.”

Iniesta:

On the threat of Pepe & Portugal’s defense – “Of course I know him well, as a tough opponent. He is one of the best center-backs in the world. He can attack, he is fast and he is dangerous. We are going to have to be at our best to beat them.”

On club rivalries – “All I am thinking about is Spain getting through to the final and lifting the trophy again. It is my only thought, nothing else is important. Every individual has to work for the team, that’s all I am thinking about.”

Negredo:

On the pair of Bruno Alves & Pepe – “They are two great centers. Pepe, you know from the Spanish League, he’s fast, strong, forceful and aggressive in his actions and is one of the best centers in the world. Alves also has air power, is strong and they make a good pair in the Portuguese defense. ”

On avoiding errors at the edge of the area where CR is concerned – “We don’t have a special plan for this, we know he’s a great free kick taker but football sometimes forces you to make mistakes by circumstances and for me we have the best goalkeeper in the world that  knows him very well and know to stop him. ”

On Iniesta – “Above all, beforehis footballing worth, I would highlight the human, the great person he is. In football we all know, the overflow, the one on one, when he has the ball he is determined to go by the opponents … and that makes him a different player. ”

VdB:

Is this the biggest game of your life and what you think about the noise created around Cristiano Ronaldo?

It is a semi-final and we want to eliminate a great selection, it’s an important game. Players who will create are more suitable for this match. Cristiano does not go unnoticed, he’s an important player in the view of the world, he plays in the Spanish league and it’s normal to have this noise around him.

What do you think the other semifinal: Italy-Germany?

For these two semifinals are ranked the four teams that have shown some superiority. The image of Italy to England has been very good, they have earned classification, there has been a regeneration of that selection, keeping the spirit and make an excellent team with young players and veterans.

Will the Spanish Selection have to climb up a level to deal with Portugal?

We’ll try to be ourselves, it’s the most important. Depending on the opponent, we will change some details, but develop our idea is the best we can do.

Are you happy with the appreciation that the Spanish Selection is receiving?

We are pleased that we are a very popular choice and I feel much happier because it is a team rather than an individual player.

Have things changed much since the two matches of 2010?

Things have changed considerably since the World Cup: that day we disabled Portugal and the day we played in Lisbon we didn’t, possibly playing with the same team, with the absence of Villa and Puyol, we’ll try to disable it. You have to look the two matches.

Champions of Europe and the world. Is Spain at its best and what to expect in the future?

We hope to continue progressing and that Spain is in the elite of world football. We’re talking about a good time and now we have the style we have spent many years looking for. We were always dissatisfied with everything, but this style is what has given us success.

Do you think the best of Spain is coming?

In football it is difficult to foretell. We are at the right time to address this semifinal. Any detail can be critical in the development of a game. Football sometimes does not have an extraordinary logic and hopefully we are superior to Portugal, a very strong selection.

What will you do to stop Cristiano Ronaldo?

Trying to deactivate, it’s the best example we could see in the second round of the World Cup, which gave us a good result. Possibly with other men and names, but the idea is always the same.

In England they feel envious of your style of play. Do you think that the English can play the same way as Spain?

I think in football there are trends. Spain, Holland and Germany in the World Cup marked a combinative game. England has good players and could play well. This is a very globalized football. England are the parents of European football.

Will tiredness affect the players?

After the game against France said they were tired because we went from a very mild temperature for football to much heat. Still, I’ve seen good players and we had mettle in the workload. The players are physical talents. We should not worry excessively about fitness.

How would you describe the Portuguese defense?

It is a balanced defense, very strong, with two central defenders and two great side offensives. It is a very balanced team. In front are quality players but I think it’s a very good team. Any little thing can decide the match.

Who has a better chance of winning?

We have a responsibility to defend the European title worldwide, and Portugal as well, because it is at the door to peer into the most success in its history .. We are all almost 50% and both teams have responsibilities.

Yesterday, Pique had a little sit down with reporters to talk about International duty and the pranks he likes to play on his teammates..

From Reuters

“I like to have a joke and a good time. When you are taking part in a tournament like this where you have to be together for a month if you don’t try to have some fun then it can get monotonous and a bit wearing. Of course when it comes to the matches and you are out there on the pitch you have to be totally focused on your work. You can’t joke around then as you can pay for it by conceding a goal.”

On being paired with Sergio Ramos in defense – “It is working out really well. It’s true that we miss Puyi but Sergio is a player with a great deal of quality. With every match we are improving as a partnership and we are getting to know each other better all the time. I think the defence in general has been excellent.”

On losing to Portugal the last time they met – “It’s not that it hurts still but it’s certainly a game we need to keep in mind. They did a lot of things right and we did not so we need to analyze that. We have to put in a performance more like the one at the World Cup, where I think we played a very good match.”

On his outlook for the Semifinal match – “We have to trust in ourselves and maintain the essence of our game, which is to control the ball and starve them of possession. Above all we have to be extremely alert to the threat of their wide players Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani. We need to deny them space because if they find it that is when they are at their most dangerous.”

Night training! How gorgeous is that sky?

 

I believe these gifs are from a couple days back, but you can’t just NOT post Nando’s interpretation of the Bend & Snap.

And why not end with a little Sergio?

“I kissed Nando four times today.”

Pics and Gifs via GFSports & daviniatorres9.

-Maisougio