Easy for Spain, Balotelli fires Italy
Source: Agencies |
June 18, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ANDRES Iniesta repeated several times that Spain deserved its 2-1 victory over Uruguay in their Confederations Cup opener.
The Spain midfielder had only one problem with Sunday's result. The game wasn't as close as the score looked, and Spain should have scored at least one more goal.
"I think it was clear Spain was the undeniable winner, a deserved victory," Iniesta said. "It left a very good taste in our mouth. But we probably deserved another goal."
Spain had 77 percent of the possession in the first half, and 71 in the match - and that tells much of the story.
Cesc Fabregas hit the post in the 10th minute, which is the probably the other goal Iniesta was talking about.
The World Cup champion did get two first-half goals just after Fabregas' miss, one in the 20th from Pedro and another 12 minutes later by striker Roberto Soldado.
Spain had a little luck with the first goal, which looked to be heading wide when it took a huge deflection off Uruguay defender Diego Lugano to beat goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. The second was perfect finishing by Soldado after a reverse pass from Cesc Fabregas.
Luis Suarez scored a consolation goal with a delicately curling freekick for Uruguay in the 88th.
Spain is attempting to win the only major trophy it lacks to go with a 2010 World Cup and two consecutive European championship. Captain Iker Casillas also returned between the bars. Casillas had not played a competitive match in 4 1/2 months.
Elsewhere, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli tore a strip off tearaway striker Mario Balotelli despite the controversial star grabbing the winner in the 2-1 win over Mexico. Balotelli sealed the win 12 minutes from time with a fine, muscular finish, but Prandelli was furious after the striker was booked for stripping off his shirt in celebration.
"Mario needs to stop taking his shirt off after scoring a goal. Picking up silly bookings is not a good idea in a tournament as difficult as this one," said Prandelli, having already castigated Balotelli for his sending off in the recent World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic. Veteran Andrea Pirlo marked his 100th international with a sumptuous freekick for Italy's first.
The Spain midfielder had only one problem with Sunday's result. The game wasn't as close as the score looked, and Spain should have scored at least one more goal.
"I think it was clear Spain was the undeniable winner, a deserved victory," Iniesta said. "It left a very good taste in our mouth. But we probably deserved another goal."
Spain had 77 percent of the possession in the first half, and 71 in the match - and that tells much of the story.
Cesc Fabregas hit the post in the 10th minute, which is the probably the other goal Iniesta was talking about.
The World Cup champion did get two first-half goals just after Fabregas' miss, one in the 20th from Pedro and another 12 minutes later by striker Roberto Soldado.
Spain had a little luck with the first goal, which looked to be heading wide when it took a huge deflection off Uruguay defender Diego Lugano to beat goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. The second was perfect finishing by Soldado after a reverse pass from Cesc Fabregas.
Luis Suarez scored a consolation goal with a delicately curling freekick for Uruguay in the 88th.
Spain is attempting to win the only major trophy it lacks to go with a 2010 World Cup and two consecutive European championship. Captain Iker Casillas also returned between the bars. Casillas had not played a competitive match in 4 1/2 months.
Elsewhere, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli tore a strip off tearaway striker Mario Balotelli despite the controversial star grabbing the winner in the 2-1 win over Mexico. Balotelli sealed the win 12 minutes from time with a fine, muscular finish, but Prandelli was furious after the striker was booked for stripping off his shirt in celebration.
"Mario needs to stop taking his shirt off after scoring a goal. Picking up silly bookings is not a good idea in a tournament as difficult as this one," said Prandelli, having already castigated Balotelli for his sending off in the recent World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic. Veteran Andrea Pirlo marked his 100th international with a sumptuous freekick for Italy's first.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
