Del Bosque toys with idea of not using designated target man

SPAIN MAY try to confuse their Group C opponents during this summer’s European Championships by deploying a “false number nine” as coach Vincente del Bosque toys with the idea of going without a designated target man.

With Barcelona striker David Villa not set to return until the end of the Spanish season after breaking his leg at the Club World Cup and Chelsea’s Fernando Torres dropped from the squad due to his lack of form, Del Bosque is weighing up using a three-man forward system that Barcelona have mastered in recent years.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s friendly against Venezuela in Malaga, Del Bosque pointed to last October’s 3-1 qualifier victory over Scotland as a prime example.

“Against Scotland we experimented without any reference points in the forward line. These are options that we have and that we should utilise. This richness in our play is beneficial and works well for us,” said Del Bosque.

The manager can call on a number of gifted attacking midfielders who could fill the role of what is known in Spain as the “false number nine”.

As well as Manchester City playmaker David Silva, Del Bosque also has the Barca duo of Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta and Chelsea’s Juan Mata on his roster, while Villa is another possibility should he recover from leg surgery in time.

Elsewhere, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic sees tonight’s friendly against Sweden in Zagreb as a good rehearsal for what his side will face in their opening Group C encounter against the Republic of Ireland in Poznan on June 10th.

“The Swedes are not identical to Ireland but they have many things in common, namely a vertically aggressive attacking style,” said Bilic.

“Both teams are very good at set-pieces and win most aerial battles against their opponents, meaning that we will have to match them every step of the way in terms of endurance, commitment and discipline. If we can do that, our individual quality should make the difference,” he added.

Bilic played down suggestions that his squad is already settled and that the game with Sweden would give his fringe players a chance to stake their claims.

“Some media have suggested the team picks itself and that naming the final squad is a mere formality but I can assure everyone here that it’s not,” said Bilic.

“No player in my team can take anything for granted, they can all either consolidate their positions in the pecking order or compromise them depending on their performances.”

Meanwhile, Roma striker Fabio Borini is in line to make his debut for Italy against the US in Genoa tonight after winning his first call-up to the national team.

Borini, who returned to Italy this summer after four years at Chelsea, scored his seventh league goal of the season in his side’s 4-1 defeat to Atalanta on Sunday

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli left Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli out of his squad for the game, citing disciplinary matters as a vital part of his approach to a major tournament.

Balotelli, who was given a four-match ban for stamping on Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Scott Parker in January, is not the only player dropped, with Pablo Osvaldo, sent off playing for Roma on Sunday, also omitted.

“We have to be fully prepared for everything that can happen on the pitch,” explained Prandelli. “Players must understand they cannot react badly whenever something is not going their way and risk reducing the team to 10 men.”