Del Bosque: No rift in Spain's dressing room during World Cup

Del Bosque: No rift in Spain's dressing room during World Cup

Published Nov. 13, 2014 6:15 p.m. ET
113bc621-

Vicente del Bosque has denied that dressing room unrest has played a part in Spain's demise following an era of dominance.

Spain crashed out of the World Cup with a whimper as the defending champion was unable to progress beyond the group stage in Brazil.

Having been crowned world champion four years ago and won back-to-back European Championships, Spain is now rebuilding with a new-look side following the international retirement of Xavi, Xabi Alonso and David Villa.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Spanish Football Federation kept faith with Del Bosque despite the poor showing in Brazil and the experienced coach has dismissed talk of dressing room rifts being a cause of Spain's fall from grace.

"A manager has to try to manage both human and technical aspects. Regarding human relationships we haven't had any problem," he told Perform. "Just this period when Barcelona and [Real] Madrid were competing a lot and we had this bad experience. Currently it is just a bad memory. So we haven't had problems in the changing room.

"Then, regarding football there were some circumstances, maybe bad coach decisions, maybe players don't reach World Cup at their best ... the thing is all these little things created a hole that made us impossible at least to overcome the group stage (in Brazil). But that's it, it was impossible."

Spain hosts Belarus in Euro 2016 qualifying Saturday, with Del Bosque's side sitting second in Group C, three points behind first-place Slovakia.

FOXSoccer.com and Goal.com have teamed up to bring you the best in world soccer coverage. Visit Goal.com, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

More from Goal.com:

Goal Posts - Daily LIVE soccer blog

Goal.com's Transfer Rumors

Goal.com - Headlines

share