Spain stay strong despite ailing Xavi

By Brendon Hanley Jun 27, 2009, 18:29 GMT

Rustenburg, South Africa - Despite missing out on their dream final against Brazil at the Confederations Cup, Spain are anxious to end their tournament on a high by beating South Africa in the third place match Sunday.

While most will be focused on the Selecao's final against the United States, who stopped Spain's 15 match winning streak in the semi-final, La Furia Roja insist they will not be taking the hosts lightly in the day's earlier football match from Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

'We want to end the season and the tournament well,' said coach Vicente del Bosque. 'Of course we're a bit bothered not to make the final, but it's been an excellent experience for us.'

David Villa, who has been dogged by rumours about a possible big-money transfer away from Valencia, seemed to go back on previous Spanish comments about the side's motivation heading into the consolation contest.

'It's an important match that we have to play,' said the striker, who has been linked with Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona and others. 'We didn't want to do it before, but we will now have to fight for third place. And we are just as motivated as if it were the final. We can't win the tournament, but we want to be in third.'

But that note of resignation was in all of the comments by the European champions. As Cesc Fabregas said simply: 'We want to be in third because it's better than fourth.

'We want to leave a good impression and show we are a great team. It's an important match for the prestige of the team,' said the Arsenal midfielder.

Spain will likely be without playmaker Xavi, who has not trained since the 2-0 loss to the US because of an unspecified allergic reaction. However, Del Bosque said it was too soon to tell.

'We're waiting to know more about Xavi,' said the former Real Madrid boss, who took over the team after their successful Euro 2008 campaign. 'He is ill, but I don't believe that it is serious. There's still a chance he will play, but we haven't decided on the line-up.'

Given that they have more to lose in the match than they have to gain, one could be forgiven for thinking Spain will field a weakened side against Bafana Bafana. And though Del Bosque won't speculate about his line-up, he insists the side will be determined to win.

'We will put out the best possible team we have because we don't want anyone to feel guilty for anything,' said the coach referring back to the shock defeat to the CONCACAF champions, their first loss since the end of 2006.

'We all have regrets after the loss to the United States. We may make some changes, but I don't want to make things more complicated by saying who will play and who won't,' he said.