Ahead of the crunch World Cup qualifier against Macedonia, Julen Lopetegui insisted it was down to the players to perform, minimising the importance of the formation or system he ends up choosing. By playing a back three against Liechtenstein, Lopetegui has been keen to experiment against lesser opponents that are likely to sit back, though he knows formations are only one part of the game. "Spain are expecting a difficult game in our efforts to qualify for the World Cup, and the system isn't that important," said Lopetegui. "We will want to make it hard for them and try to play a good match. "Macedonia are very well organised and with big men up front and we are focused on what we need to do.
Lopetegui opted to look on the bright side in the wake of Diego Costa's withdrawal from the squad through injury. The Chelsea man has been in inspired form in recent weeks and will be a big miss, but the former Porto manager insists this is now a chance for someone else to step up and shine. "We have had a few withdrawals from this round of call-ups due to injury," he added. "But every time a door closes, another opens and other players will have an opportunity. "Costa's withdrawal was a shock to us, as we weren't expecting it since we thought he would recover in time. "I'm confident that whoever comes in will do a good job."
With 0 losses in 55 games, only Brazil and Italy boast a similarly untainted record on their own turf. 45 wins and ten draws is as good as it gets in international football, and has allowed La Roja to qualify for every World Cup since 1974. Of the 4,860 minutes that Spain have played at home, they have only been behind on the scoreboard for 219. That spectacular record was only seriously in danger twice, with injury-time goals saving the day on each occasion. First, Juan Manuel Asensi denied Yugoslavia a win in Las Palmas with a 94th minute strike back in 1972. "I will never forget that goal", he told MARCA recently. "I think we were already four minutes over the 90, and it was a desperate late attack. "The play was started by Ufarte, then Amancio centered from the wing. "The ball bounced before the Yugoslavian goalkeeper before going in, we tried to the bitter end, because it seemed that the Yugoslavs came to take it (the record."
The situation was repeated 34 years later when Carlos Marchena struck home in the 96th minute against a Bosnia-Herzegovina side that had led the game since the 39th minute. "Of course I remember that goal! With Spain I only scored two," he said. "It was my most exciting moment with the promotion of Depor. There was silence, but I knew I had to put it in. "We did not know what to do! In the end the goal came and it was an immense joy." Since then, La Roja have rarely been troubled in the same way, with Olivier Giroud's late equaliser for France in 2012 the low-point in an otherwise superb run. Spain at home are a force to be reckoned with.
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