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Q & A: Spain's Jose Antonio Camacho
Posted: Tuesday April 23, 2002 6:55 PM
Updated: Tuesday April 23, 2002 6:56 PM
What
do you think of the draw?
With the exception of Argentina and England's group, all the others
are very similar, so I can't complain. I'd be selling my players
short if I denied that Spain were group favorites, but we won't
qualify on name alone. Our goalless draw against Paraguay at the
last World Cup meant they qualified for the second stage and we
didn't. And we had lots of problems beating Slovenia at Euro 2000.
Who
are your key players?
I prefer not to talk about key players. For me the key to our success
is that, as a group, my players have the right mental attitude.
People talk about Raul, Juan Carlos Valeron and Diego Tristan, but
for me all the 23 players are equally important. And I demand the
same thing of each one -- 100 percent mind-set on playing for Spain.
Who
will be the surprises?
I think the notion of surprise teams at World Cups or European Championships
has passed its sell-by date. These days, countries are so evenly
matched there really are no easy rivals, and no result is that surprising.
As for players, I don't like to single out individuals but Joaquin
has been one of the surprises of our League; he's playing so well
he has forced his way into my plans.
How
will the conditions affect you?
No more than the other sides in our group. I was worried about this
factor before the draw, but not now. If we'd drawn an oriental side
it would have put us at a disadvantage, but Slovenia, Paraguay and
South Africa will all face the same adjustments. What I will say
is you're almost guaranteed that 20 per cent of the players will
have problems adapting -- and you never know who they'll be.
Who
will win the World Cup?
I hope Spain do, but my favorites are France and Argentina. Just
behind those two I'd put Brazil, Germany and Italy; none of them
have been in especially good form but I'm convinced they'll end
up where they always do, in the final stages. But even for the favorites,
luck is a factor. France were lucky to beat us at Euro 2000, then
beat Portugal with a last-gasp penalty and were losing the Final
before equalizing in the dying seconds. And in the World Cup quarter-finals
they only beat Italy in the penalty lottery. So even for a team
as strong as France, the margin between success and failure is wafer-thin.
The
Spanish League is possibly the strongest in the world. Does that
help the national team?
It's not necessarily a good thing because our club sides are
reinforced by the very best foreigners; the likes of Rivaldo, Zidane,
Figo and Roberto Carlos assume the responsibility for their clubs,
yet we have to play against these guys at the World Cup. And the
fact that club football in Spain is so strong means the national
side is almost an afterthought. In Argentina or France, the international
side means everything; here in Spain nobody takes any notice of
us until the World Cup finals come around, and then everybody expects
us to win it!
But
Deportivo and Real Madrid have more Spanish players than ever; surely
that's a positive factor?
It's good to see, but it also has negative side-effects. Half my
squad at Euro 2000 came to me straight from the Champions League
Final between Real Madrid and Valencia. My problem was getting the
Madrid players' feet back on the ground after the emotional high
of winning, and raising the morale of the Valencia players after
their disappointment. What
happened? We lost our first game, against Norway. And if something
similar happens this season, I'll have 20 days to prepare guys who've
played 60 games.
As
a player, you were ever-present for Spain at the World Cup finals
in 1982 and 1986. Does that experience help you as a coach?
Being a player is very different to being a coach. The most important
thing is that it teaches you how to handle the pressure. If you've
been through similar experiences it means you know how the players
feel, and that's a big help. But overall, I don't think a coach's
playing experience is the most important factor. The mental attitude
of the players will determine Spain's possibilities.
Young
players like Diego Tristan, Joaquin, Vicente and Puyol have been
raising hell in La Liga. What can we expect of them at the World
Cup?
You have to strike the right balance, but my track record proves
I don't hesitate in the slightest before giving young players their
chance. In fact, I always say that the players pick themselves,
regardless of age; I just write down the list. The only thing you
have to do as coach is try to maintain a stable base. You get so
little time to work on tactics, the youngsters need experienced
internationals alongside them as a reference.
There
does seem to be a lack of young legs in defense. Are you worried
that players like Hierro, Nadal and Sergi will struggle?
People are always going on about how old Hierro and Nadal are. All
I know is that they're still the best two players in their position.
I'm not a club manager signing them long-term, I just want them
to be fit and well for the World Cup. I'll admit the center of defense
has become a jinx position. Practically every player we use there
-- Cesar, Abelardo, Marcelino -- gets injured. But as long as Hierro
and Nadal maintain their form and attitude, their age doesn't bother
me in the slightest. And believe me, rivals would rather face a
Spain side without players of their presence.
From World Soccer magazine.
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