And he, in turn, brought about change, but not total revolution.
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The qualification campaign for Euro 2016 was not without its trials and tribulations – a few of the team’s own making. “They are great tests for our team”.
“[On the shootings in Paris], I’m sad about what is happening in France”.
Costa is one of seven English-based players in the Spain squad that could feature against their adopted country in Alicante.
Spain (possible): Casillas; Gaspar, Pique, Bartra, Alba; Mata, Busquets; Thiago, Iniesta, Fabregas; Costa.
Del Bosque said he was content with how both new boys were settling with the team.
“We are going to use the two games to look at various combinations of players playing together”, Hodgson said Thursday.
Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross has been given a year’s supply of deodorant after a “smelly armpits” spat with Chelsea striker Diego Costa.
Meanwhile, after a slow start to the season he is now playing well for Valencia.
“We should be proud [of Iker Casillas]”.
Any young stars to be aware of?
But Barca have tactically moved on since then, with Lionel Messi ditching his “false nine” position and the midfield-reliant methods of so-called tiki-taka being somewhat abandoned in favour of a more direct approach, based around the forward line of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
Rooney said of the Spain striker (via Sky Sports): “I actually voted for him as player of the year last season because I think he was a huge player for Chelsea”.
But the glorious, mesmerizing run of games Spain produced year after year etched a special place in the collective memory of fans, pundits, journalists, and players all over the world.
He’s popped up with two more goals this season too, against Athletic Bilbao and against Sevilla.
“We have seen him improve on a weekly and monthly basis”.
The first will involve not being wound up by Chelsea’s Diego Costa, the second will be trying to get hold of the ball – Spain will try to dominate possession with their world-class midfielders – and the final one will be trying to beat David de Gea. “He is here because we believe in him”.
The latter in particular has impressed by scoring five La Liga goals for Valencia so far this season.
But Del Bosque resisted those calls, insisting that the team is in a transitional mode and that he is also thinking about the future. But there is still a doubt in Hodgson’s mind about whether the 21-year-old can cut it at the top level.
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“Laurie was more inconsistent”, the celebrated Spanish coach added.
