Navas says goals will come for Spain

AFP, Tuesday 12 Jun 2012

Spain held to a 1-1 draw with Italy in the opener

Navas
Spain's Jesus Navas, left, gestures beside to fellow teammate Sergio Busquets, during press conference, at the Euro 2012 soccer championship in Gniewino, Poland, Tuesday, June 12, 2012. (Photo: AP)

Spanish winger Jesus Navas insisted Tuesday the goals would come for defending European champions Spain despite their struggle to find the net in their opening Euro 2012 1-1 draw with Italy.

Spain surprised observers by taking to the field without a recognised striker and it was midfielder Cesc Fabregas who finally rescued a point.

But Navas, who replaced David Silva just after the hour mark, insisted things would come together against Ireland and Croatia, their remaining Group C rivals.

"This team has experience. In the 2010 World Cup we did not win the opening game (a 1-0 loss to Switzerland) and we ended up winning the title. There are still plenty of points to play for," he told reporters.

"We had a lot of chances against Italy - the goals will come eventually as long as we keep making chances. We had a good attitude (against Italy)," he concluded.

Navas, 26 and a member of Spain's World Cup winning squad, did not see fit to question coach Vicente del Bosque's decision to play Cesc as their furthest man forward.

"It was a good decision as the boss sends out a team to win. He has a very clear eye of what he is about. we have our style and many alternatives," said Navas.

Midfielder Sergio Busquets also stressed that "all the players understand the coach's decision to play without a centre forward - I think the coach made a good decision. We carved out a few chances," he said.

Former coach Luis Aragones, who led Spain to the 2008 title, said earlier in the week he thought Spain should have been more adventurous but Busquets disagreed.

"Maybe the media and supporters don't have much patience with us. Opening matches are always tough," he insisted.

"And we were playing former world champions."

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