Raúl Albiol has dismissed suggestions that already-eliminated Spain’s match against Australia in Curitiba on Monday does not matter, saying that they must win their final game to avoid finishing bottom of their group. “It’s the World Cup, not a friendly in Vietnam,” he said. Both Albiol and Manchester City’s David Silva also confirmed that they plan to continue with the national team after the tournament.
Albiol was speaking at Spain’s base just outside Curitiba, where they carried out their last training session. They will return to Spain following the Australia game, after the former champions became the joint-first team to be knocked out of the 2014 World Cup, along with the Socceroos.
It is not a game that many are relishing but Albiol, who made his Spain debut eight years ago but plays only rarely and is yet to make an appearance in the World Cup, insisted that those who play will be motivated. He also dismissed suggestions that a heavy fixture list was to blame for Spain’s poor showing.
Asked if this game was a pain in the backside that Spain’s players could so without, Albiol replied: “No, no way. When you are a footballer, what you want to do is play for Spain at a World Cup.
“The motivation is that this is a World Cup. We have to win. We don’t want to finish bottom of the group. We are representing a whole country and we have to give everything we have to win this match. So there is motivation.
“It’s a World Cup game, not a friendly in Vietnam. We have played in thousands of places for Spain and we have always given our very best. We have to give everything and I am sure we’ll have the desire to win and get three points. We have to stand up to be counted, to play well, and to finish well.”
At the end of the World Cup a number of Spain’s players are expected to retire from international football, including Xavi Hernández, Xabi Alonso and David Villa. Albiol, who is 28, was asked what plans he had for the future and the same question was also posed to David Silva, who appeared alongside him here and is the same age.
“In principle, to continue,” Silva said. “We’re young and we hope to still be here.”
Albiol added: “It’s the same for me. I want to keep working and keep playing for Spain – if they want me.”