Spain Remain Focused to Defend Title at Euro 2016 – Del Bosque

Spain boss Del Bosque is adamant La Roja can defend their European title, despite suffering a dip in form at World Cup two years ago.

(Image credit: The Guardian)

Spain achieved unprecedented success when they won three championships between 2008 and 2012, winning Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012. However, they weren’t able to replicate that same form during 2014’s World Cup campaign as they were sent packing home after failing to progress past the group stage.

“One has to differentiate between an aim and an obligation. To win the title cannot be an obligation. There is always an important lesson to be learned when you lose,” Del Bosque told Marca.

The Spain boss stressed that his players didn’t have a problem with “humility” during the World Cup, but rather concedes that bad results were due to the superiority of their opponents. “It was not a humility issue but a sporting one. We lost against teams that were superior to us on the pitch. We never made excuses. We never thought we were superior or unbeatable,” said the 65-year-old manager.

Del Bosque highlighted his side are ready for the challenges in Euro 2016, but warned that a number of countries can scupper their plans or retaining their European title. “We go into the tournament with the maximum ambition and that is to defend the title that we achieved four years ago. It’s the same situation that we were in at Euro 2012 but with a bit more responsibility because we now have to defend two straight lines.”

“There is World Cup holders Germany and tournament hosts France who have a very strong team. Then there is Italy with their competitive gene. We cannot forget England, Belgium, Croatia, Poland,” Del Bosque said.

Spain are third favourites to lift the title in France, per online sportsbook Bet365
(Image credit: FourFourTwo)

With France being the favourites 3.00 (2/1) to clinch the title on their home soil, Spain have been pushed down the pecking order, despite being defending champions. Online sportsbook Bet365 gives them third favourite odds 6.00 (5/1), behind World Cup winners Germany 5.00 (4/1) and ahead of Roy Hodgson’s men 9.50 (17/2).

(Check out Betting Herald’s Bet365 Sports Review for more info about the online sportsbook.)

La Roja have been pit in Group D that features the likes of Croatia, Czech Republic and Turkey. Del Bosque’s men are the favourites to win the group 1.57 (4/7), while Croatia are underdogs with chances of 4.00 (3/1), per online sportsbook odds. Turkey and Czech Rep. are outsiders 10.00 (9/1) when it comes to clinching top spot in Group D.

Spain 1.44 (4/9) open their Euro 2016 campaign against Czech Rep. 7.50 (13/2) on June 13, which should be an easy task for them considering their great experience in the competition. The two have met on four previous occasions, which resulted in Spain winning 3 times and being held back only once with a draw.

Four days later, the defending European champions 1.50 (1/2) will square off against Turkey 6.50 (11/2) – a side that they’ve played against 11 times in their illustrious history. So far, Spain have won 5 of those matches, while suffering 4 draws and 2 losses in the process. The final time they’ve met was during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which saw Del Bosque’s men clinch both victories – home and away.

On June 21, La Roja 1.90 (10/11) will face Croatia 4.00 (3/1) in what will be their final group game. The pair have played together in the previous edition of the European Championship during group stage – 2012’s Euro held in Poland and Ukraine – that led to a 1-0 victory for Spain, before they went on to defend their European title against Italy in the final. Before 2012, Spain and Croatia have only faced each other in friendly matches on four separate occasions that resulted in 2 wins for La Roja, 1 draw and 1 win for Croatia.