EURO 2008 INFO

Spain coach Luis Aragonés has rejected suggestions that his nation are favourites for Euro 2008, stating that France and Italy are his two tips for the tournament.

Spain host Italy in an international friendly in Elche on Wednesday as they start to ramp up their preparations for Euro 2008, and Aragonés believes that pundits need look no further than their opponents as favourites to win the competition in Austria and Switzerland.

"The favorites continue to be Italy and France; Spain cannot be given such a tag," he told a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite dismissing Spain as favourites for the tournament, Aragonés feels that his team are in good shape and can beat any team on their day.

"Spain has never achieved great things, but we are a team that, playing at one hundred per cent, can beat anyone, but also lose to them. We have had a very good year and we hope to follow that through and have good things happen for us."

"Everything is so close that if you make one mistake then you can be out of competition."

Substance Over Style?

Aragonés was quick to defend the Italian team when it was put to him that they are an unattractive side, stating that he admires the balance they have in their side.

"I have listened to people saying that Italian football is bad, that its league is bad and so on. I think that they are more disciplined, that they prefer to keep a clean sheet rather than score seven, but when they have to attack, they attack, and there is an important balance in the team," he affirmed.

"The one that wins is the one that is better."

The sixty-nine year coach also praised some of the Italian squad, describing Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero as "very intelligent" players and stating that Rino Gattuso "can teach to us what it is to compete and sacrifice yourself in a match."

Buffon or Casillas

Wednesday's match sees two of the most revered goalkeepers in the world go head-to-head and although Aragonés favours Iker Casillas, he indicated that he has nothing but respect for the Juventus goalkeeper.

"It seems to me that my player is the best, but Buffon has demonstrated his ability. There are other very good keepers to state who is the best in the world is very hard," he concluded.