Reyes and Co ready to go
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Article summary
José Antonio Reyes is confident he and his fellow Spain strikers are in form for the first leg of their FIFA World Cup play-off against Slovakia on Saturday.
Article body
'Ideal scoreline'
"We are the better team and we are going to prove it," said the Arsenal FC forward at a news conference today. "I am convinced we are going to score goals, and a 2-0 scoreline would be ideal to take to Slovakia. With the strikers we have we are bound to score - Fernando Torres and Raúl [González] are both in form, as are Fernando Morientes and David Villa if they play."
Home turf
Reyes, Torres and Raúl are likely to be coach Luis Aragonés's choice to lead the line in an attack-minded formation. Club Atlético de Madrid talisman Torres - who will be on home turf at the Vicente Calderón stadium - has been a key performer for his country, scoring five goals in his last two games, against Belgium and San Marino.
Surprise omission
Reyes also had words of support for Real Betis Balompié winger Joaquín Sánchez, the surprise omission from the play-off squad. "I was left out recently but am back in the side now," Reyes said. "The coach is the person who decides, of course, but I am sure Joaquín remains an important player for Spain." The return leg takes place in Bratislava on 16 November with the winners advancing to Germany.