Spain coach Vicente del Bosque downplayed critical comments made by predecessor Luis Aragones about the team's shock loss to Switzerland in the World Cup, saying Thursday he wouldn't reproach the man who won the 2008 European Championship.
Aragones criticized the team's tactics after the 1-0 World Cup defeat to Switzerland, adding that a lack of conviction from the start didn't help.
Aragones, who led Spain to its Euro 2008 triumph, called the Group H loss "a tough blow" for one of the tournament favorites.
"There wasn't enough conviction to go and seize the game from the opening second," Aragones said. "We lacked speed off the ball, and we didn't look for open space well enough."
Aragones also didn't agree with Del Bosque's decision to play Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets in midfield, with both players often hanging back - especially Busquets who is a defensive player.
"The better team didn't win, just the better organized one," Aragones said after Wednesday's match.
Del Bosque sought to defuse the situation, saying that he "totally respects" Aragones' opinions.
"Not one bad word will escape my mouth about" him, Del Bosque said. "There is only one Spain - not one Del Bosque one and another Aragones one."
The coach added that "everyone has the right to express their own opinions. He's a person that knows this group of players. He's worked with them and has achieved success."
Spain now goes into Monday's match against Honduras in a position it never expected to find itself, after becoming the seventh European champion in nine World Cups to lose its opening game.
Spain's tournament has suddenly gone from worrying about its rival in the next stage - which could be Brazil if it gets out of the group - to just reaching it.
"We need to pick ourselves up," Del Bosque said. "This is sport and you need to respond."
Just as the United States did a year ago, the Swiss bunkered down to stifle Spain's chances and struck on the counterattack to lead the group with Chile on three points.
Spain's reaction will be important, because it expects most teams to employ a defensive game plan against it. Many look to Inter Milan's victory over Barcelona in this season's Champions League as the model to follow.
"Yes," midfielder Xavi Hernandez said when asked if the loss reminded him of that setback. "It was the same old movie.
"The team didn't create as many chances as usual, but it dominated the play. The ball just didn't go in. We weren't decisive enough around the goal. That was the story of the game."
Xavi was not as incisive in the play as he usually can be, but Del Bosque preferred to stick with the Barcelona midfielder with Cesc Fabregas on the bench. Fernando Torres is likely to partner David Villa up front after making an immediate impact after coming on for the last hour, which would mean one less player in midfield.
In Spain, the result left a mixed trail of reaction.
Sports daily Marca labeled the set back a "Dose of Humility," while El Mundo called it "A Nightmare Start."
"These things happen," Xavi said. "You need to stay calm and keep working the same way because it still depends on us."
