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| June 21, 2006 | Wednesday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1427 |
‘Spain still the best’
MADRID, June 20: Spain suffered on the way to a 3-1 victory over Tunisia on Monday, a performance that showed their hunger for a place in the last 16 of the World Cup, the country's newspapers reported on Tuesday.
With headlines like ‘National Take Off’ and ‘Suffering, we’re also the best,’ the papers focused on ‘golden child’ Fernando Torres who scored twice, including a penalty, to help Spain come back from a goal down at halftime.
Sports daily, Marca said Spaniards feared “it was the same as usual” after Tunisian striker Ziad Jaziri teased his way past three defenders to score in the eighth minute.
Spain have competed in the last eight World Cups but have only reached the last four once and that was back in 1950.
“Spain didn't give up or lose their composure, but they needed a second wind to turn the match,” wrote the Mundo Deportivo daily.
Newspapers praised coach Luis Aragones for bringing on midfielder Cesc Fabregas at halftime along with long-time skipper Raul, who has found himself in an unfamiliar position on the substitutes' bench.
“Raul ran out with excitement, anger, hating doubters, hungry for goals and recognition,” wrote the AS sports daily.
“We were far superior but the truth is that we were suffering until Raul's goal,” reported Marca.
Torres’ late strikes took Spain “from anguish to ecstasy,” reported the Sport daily.—Reuters
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