Aragones: Spain “As Good as the Best”

Luis Aragones may look grumpy, but he’s feeling confident. He thinks his Spain team are ready to go all the way at Euro 2008 after failing to fulfill their potential in recent tournaments. Here’s what he told sports paper Marca today:

“Until now teams like Italy, France, Brazil and Argentina have been better than us, but every day Spain are closing on them. I think we are closer (to winning a major title). Of course we have a chance to win Euro 2008 but to do that we have to know how to compete well. I now have the experience from the World Cup and also I think we are as good as the best and just need that little slice of luck.

There’s no doubt he has the players to do it. So, not for the first time, we ask: are Spain finally ready to deliver?

Certainly with players like Cesc Fàbregas, Joaquín, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández and others they have a fearsomely talented midfield, while up front they can choose from Fernando Torres, David Villa, Raúl Tamudo, Fernando Morientes, José Antonio Reyes and a suddenly back in form Raúl (who’s currently top scorer in the Primera Liga.) Spain have an embarrassment of riches going forward. The defence isn’t quite as well stocked but Carlos Puyol is still one tough mutha and young Sergio Ramos is maturing nicely. Failing that there’s still Iker Casillas blocking the path to goal for opposition strikers.

The Guardian’s Spanish correspondent Sid Lowe believes Spain’s biggest problem is that they always half-expect to disappoint just because it’s happened so many times before. So when things start to go even slightly wrong the players all think “here we go again.” So maybe Aragones announcement may be just what they need to instill some confidence and the belief that they are as good as any other team in Europe and stand a very real chance of winning Euro 2008.