Spain coach put emphasis on tactical flexibility

MADRID, May 24: Spain forward Luis Garcia has played down the significance of coach Luis Aragones's experiments with different tactical formations in the early stages of their World Cup preparations.

''There is no point in analysing the merits of different systems, you simply have to understand them to be able to adapt to them when they are used,'' Garcia told a news conference today.

''It is important to have a variety of options for ifferent situations and at the end of the day any one system can be changed by simply moving one player.

''The coach likes flexibility but if you win a game no one is bothered about which system was used.'' Aragones has raised eyebrows by employing an attacking 4-3-3 formation in his opening days with the squad, a change from his more familiar 4-4-2.

That move has seen Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres used at centre forward, along with Valencia's David Villa and Liverpool's Garcia on the flanks, leaving captain Raul on the bench.

Winger Joaquin said: ''Obviously Raul is a key player, our captain and leader, but if the coach thinks he isn't 100 percent or sees someone in better form that's up to him.'' Spain play friendlies against Russia and African champions Egypt before a final warm-up game against fellow World Cup qualifiers Croatia in Geneva on June 7. They open their campaign against Ukraine a week later in Leipzig.

REUTERS