Spain continue to give all the signals that the games coming up are important to them. Hmmm....
For example they make a splash by announcing that "last season's top scorer Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla) will not be in the squad for the 2012 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Scotland to avoid aggravating a thigh injury.No replacementis needed to what is a strong squad and one that is already through to the next round before raising a boot to play the Czech Republic and for next Tuesday´s clash at home to Scotland".
They have even pursuaded STV and other media that they are going to give the utmost respect to the opposition in the coming matches. They will give respect, but not much.
They talk the talk of the secure. Secure, through to being top and un-catchable. Secure, they are superior on a bad day to the teams in their Group. Secure, that their fans are already satisfied and saving up emotion and money for the Tournament to come. Secure, their fans are viewing the two coming matches as interesting but unimportant games, really.
For example tell any Spaniard that Fletcher is out of the coming match but should be available for the game with Spain and they would not know who you are talking about, even though he is a Man Utd, player. If you said the was a Man U player they would scoff telling how Barcelona dealt with them in the Champions' League final earlier this year. Men against boys (senors v ninos).
The Scotland match will only become interesting to the Spanish if they draw, get beaten or give a poor performance against the Czechs.
The focus of the TV here on the night will not be on profiles of the danger players, it will be on the colourful fans -I hope the focus is on the tartan and glengarries rather than as was the case with the Celtic fans here for the match against At. Madrid where it was close ups of beer bellies (or cerveza rings as they are called here) or on fans who have lost their shoes, or drunk and confused.
I hope the focus changes with a good fighting performance from Scotland. Remember that players and fans here view what we would class a beefy tackle as attempted murder. Game nearly on?