Spain football coach promises joy in crisis

AFP
Vicente Del Bosque has been in charge of the Spain national side since 2008

MADRID (AFP) –

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque, seen here on June 19, said the team can soothe the country’s economic pains by shining in the Euro but admitted football is not a cure-all, in an interview published Friday.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said the team can soothe the country’s economic pains by shining in the Euro but admitted football is not a cure-all, in an interview published Friday.

“I think we can give people delight at a difficult time. But we are not a solution for the country,” he told Madrid sports daily Marca, referring to Spain’s economic crisis which has driven up unemployment.

“We are interested in conveying values such as simpleness and humility, giving an image of normal people, good footballers. Those things are sometimes more important than winning,” he added.

“But we are talking about football. A defeat in football is unacceptable if it is serious for the country.”

Spain were to play France on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2012, in which they hope to win an unprecedented third straight success after victory in the World Cup in 2010 and the Euro 2008.

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