Del Bosque admits Spain lost control against Finland

Del Bosque admits Spain lost control against Finland

Mar 22, 2013 10:49:00 PM

The Roja boss was disappointed in the outcome for his side, but refuses to dwell on the result with a crucial clash to come against group leaders France in four days

Vicente del Bosque has rued Spain's inability to close out matters after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Finland in their World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Sergio Ramos’ header appeared to have given la Roja three points, but the hosts struggled to create many chances despite completely monopolising possession, and with 11 minutes to go, Teemu Pukki’s strike gave the visitors a share of the spoils.

And the failure of Spain to turn their dominance into more goals was not lost on their coach, who told reporters: “It seems impossible that we drew after dictating both halves of the game. We were organised, but everything went out of control in the end.

“We could have been more successful in front of goal, but we lacked the ability to add a second goal. Finland locked up their defence well, and made the unthinkable happen.”

Del Bosque is already casting his eyes to Tuesday’s crucial Group I encounter with France, whose 3-1 victory over Georgia has seen them take a two point lead at the top of the standings.

“There are still four games to play, and four days to prepare [for France]. We still have a long way to go,” concluded the 2012 Fifa coach of the year.

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German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

5:50 PM BST

The whole sporting world is watching tonight. Indeed, not even the glitz and glamour on offer in Monte Carlo will get in the way of F1 driver Nico Rosberg watching the Champions League final. His mother might, though! Clad in a Bayern jersey with his name on the back, Rosberg was interviewed by Sky Sport Germany earlier and explained that his sole focus at the moment is finding somewhere to watch the game, given his Dortmund-supporting mother is threatening to disown him. "I might have trouble getting into the house!" he admitted.

5:42 PM BST

Right, just over two hours to go until kick-off, so let's check in with our man Jay Jaffa, who says the atmosphere is already building at Wembley.

"Jurgen Klopp said in his pre-match press conference that were he to never make another Champions League final, he could die happy knowing that he took a team to the home of football - Wembley.

"And I can tell you as I look at the sea of yellow, black and red that fans of both sides feel similar - there are hordes of Dortmund and Bayern supporters already congregating around the national stadium, eagerly lapping up some late afternoon sun."

5:38 PM BST

It is this increasingly bitter rivalry between Bayern and Dortmund that almost guarantees fireworks at Wembley tonight, according to Bayern defender Dante, who spoke exclusively with Goal earlier this week.

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The aforementioned Gotze deal, and the way in which it was leaked to the press on the eve of Dortmund’s Champions League semi-final, first-leg clash with Madrid, has only intensified the antipathy between the two clubs, while, as you can see from the photo below, the man at the centre of the transfer has inevitably been caught in the crossfire. This is all nothing new, of course. Bayern may have loaned a cash-strapped Dortmund money a decade ago but the pair have been locked in a vicious – but entertaining – war of words in the wake of die Schwarzgelben’s subsequent re-emergence as a major force, and Daniel Buse and Enis Koylu have catalogued the best quotes here.

5:23 PM BST

Right, still plenty of time to go until kick-off, so why not get involved in our Champions League quiz on Twitter? Here's one to start you off:

After tonight, how many Champions League/European Cup finals will Bayern Munich have played in?

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