SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2014 Spain mourns World Cup ‘catastrophe’ MADRID: Spanish newspapers yesterday bemoaned in South Africa. The Spanish press’s only source of con- the “humiliation” and “catastrophe” of world champions solation was pointing out that Spain lost its first game in FAN FERVOR Spain’s 5-1 battering by the Netherlands in their open- that World Cup, to Switzerland. Many commentators ing World Cup match in Brazil. Most splashed on their mourned the ineffective performances of front pages photos of Spain’s goalkeeper and captain past heros of the Spain squad, such Iker Casillas kneeling with head bowed as Dutch players as Casillas, defenders Sergio celebrated after ripping apart the Spanish defense. Ramos and Gerard Pique and The image summed up a tale of fallen heros in a midfielders Andres Iniesta, team shouldering huge expectations as it defends its Sergio Busquets and Xavi world title. Leading Madrid sports daily Marca mourned Hernandez. Some thought “a historic catastrophe”, dubbing the Netherlands’ per- the defeat marked the end formance “a goal-scoring spree of Biblical proportions”. of an era for the world and Cafe terraces across Madrid erupted with joy when European champions. Spain went 1-0 up through a contentious 27th minute “Spain is like the remains of penalty by Xabi Alonso on Friday night. But they fell an empire that knows it is near its silent when Robin van Persie struck back just before half end,” wrote commentator Joan Maria time with a stunning header that looped over Casillas Batlle in Sport. “Casillas was unrecogniz- into the net. The mood darkened as the Dutch added able. Pique and Sergio Ramos were unco- four more goals in the second half and the capital was ordinated, as if they had never played quiet as fans in their red shirts plodded home. together,” while Iniesta and Xavi dropped out of sight in the second half, Batlle wrote. The Humiliation online editions of the sporting press yester- With two Euro championships plus the 2010 World day were a gallery of Spain’s glum-faced fall- Cup under their belt, expectations for Spain in this com- en heros. Marca’s led with Casillas’s post- petition could not be higher and the response to Friday match apology to fans. He was the first night’s upset was bitter. It left fans and press alike Spain goalkeeper to let in five goals since mourning the decline of Casillas and demanding 1963 when Scotland beat them 6-2 in a changes for the next match, against Chile on friendly. Wednesday. “This is not just any old defeat. It is a his- toric disaster. There is no precedent of this scale in the Urgent solutions history of the World Cup,” Marca wrote. “Humiliation”, AS said that fans consulted in a survey ran a headline on the front page of general daily El online “want to get Pique, Busquets and Mundo. Xavi Hernandez out of the team and “World disaster,” said leading newspaper El Pais. have great doubts about Casillas and Leading general newspaper El Pais noted on its front Diego Costa”-a new face in the squad page that Spain had not let in more than one goal in a this year. Instead they want midfielders World Cup or European championship match since Javi Martinez, Koke and Pedro 2008. On Friday’s “the collapse was total, it was hell”, it Rodriguez, it said. If Spain wants to extend its wrote. “A ridiculous start,” screamed Barcelona-based winning streak after the 2010 World Cup crown daily Sport on its front page, calling the match Spain’s and the past two Euro championships, coach “worst nightmare”. Barcelona general newspaper El Vicente del Bosque “will have to seek urgent Periodico saw the defending world champions, known solutions”, Marca warned. “The hardest job will as La Roja or the Reds, as “Red with shame”. Madrid be in maintaining team spirit.” “It is time to think sports daily AS mourned a “Total breakdown” by Spain quickly, draw firm conclusions and make logical in the second half as they gave away their lead. changes in the next starting line-up to get back into this World Cup,” wrote Lobo Carrasco in Revenge Barcelona sports paper Mundo Deportivo. Spain’s coach Spanish papers noted bitterly that the scoreline-two “Winning it seems is almost impossible, but it all Vicente Del goals each by Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie and depends on beating Chile.” Chile opened with a Bosque one by Stefan de Vrij-was sweet revenge for the Dutch 3-1 win over Australia on Friday.— AFP for their 1-0 defeat by Spain in the 2010 World Cup final Improved Switzerland confident of last-16 BRASILIA: Switzerland have improved since the last World Cup in 2010 and are confident they can reach the last 16 as one of two qualifiers from Group E, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said yesterday. Speaking ahead of today’s opening game against Ecuador, the experienced Hitzfeld said an injection of youth and creativity allied with traditional Swiss defen- sive solidity would help his team avoid the early exit they suffered four years ago. Switzerland began their campaign A combination of file pictures shows Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi (right) and Iran’s Portuguese in South Africa with a stunning 1-0 win over eventual win- coach Carlos Queiroz reacting. Nigeria play Iran in their Group F opener tomorrow during the ners Spain before defeat by Chile and a draw with 2014 FIFA World Cup football tournament. —AFP Honduras ended their hopes. “We began the revolution in 2011 when we brought in younger players,” Hitzfeld told a news conference at the Nigeria and Iran seek to national stadium in the Brazilian capital. “We have a very strong younger generation and we also have young, yet end 16-year winless run experienced, players,” added the 65-year-old German, who took over in 2008 after coaching stints at clubs including CURITUIBA: Iran and Nigeria The current African champion one of the most experienced Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. “In that sense we have something in common has got back on track over the goalkeepers in the tournament. have a better mix and I think also in human terms the team ahead of their World Cup clash in past couple of years under coach Iran last victory at the World Cup is better suited to each other. “We are a bit more creative Curituiba. When they meet Stephen Keshi, who played for was against the United States in going forward and in defense we are still well organized. tomorrow at the Arena da Nigeria in the 1994 World Cup one of the great geopolitical Baixada, both teams will be bid- and has helped it recover some of clashes. It’s one appearance in “I am convinced we will perform better this time and ding to win their first match in the flair and power that marked the finals since, in Germany 2006, that we will reach the last 16. “Dreams are there to be real- the World Cup finals since France his country’s football in the yielded just a solitary point. ized. It is already a dream to be here in Brazil at the World 1998. With Argentina the clear 1990s. Keshi appears uncon- Despite haphazard prepara- Cup. “My dream is of course that we reach the last 16 and favorite in Group F, Iran and cerned that his team failed to win tions that involved a dearth of then we can dream bigger.” Hitzfeld said there was a lot Nigeria are expected to compete any of its three pre-tournament friendlies and financial con- more to Ecuador than well-known players like Antonio with tournament newcomer friendlies. “My concern is how I’m straints, Iran will be no pushover. Valencia and Felipe Caicedo and Switzerland would have to Bosnia-Herzegovina for second going to bring my players to With Carlos Queiroz, a former be careful not to be caught out by one of the South spot. understand the style of play, to coach of Real Madrid and Americans’ swift counter-attacks. “Ecuador’s strength is Though Nigeria is often con- bring them back into the rhythm Portugal, at the helm, Nigeria will their counter and they can turn defense into attack in the sidered a powerhouse of African that we are used to, because it’s a find Iran difficult to break down. blink of an eye,” he told reporters. “They also have two football, the Super Eagles have long time we were apart,” Keshi To bolster the attack, Queiroz has excellent centre backs and the full backs are very quick. not won a game at the World Cup said. convinced Reza Ghoochannejhad finals since defeating Bulgaria in Keshi has a number of hugely and Ashkan Dejagah to represent “We know Ecuador’s strengths and we know that we will a group match 16 years ago. experienced players at his dispos- the country of their birth. Both have to be at our best tomorrow to win the game.” Since then, Nigeria has endured al, many of whom play for some played key roles in Iran’s late two fairly dismal World Cup cam- of Europe’s top clubs. Much could charge to clinch top spot in an Game time paigns, including in South Africa hinge on the form and fitness of Asian qualifying group that Midfield pair Gokhan Inler, the captain, and Valon in 2010, notching up a grand Fenerbahce striker Emmanuel included regional powerhouse Behrami also appeared at the news conference and total of two points. That’s not Emenike, who has been prolific South Korea.