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Less than a week before the start of the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, the official championship website decided to interview the Spanish national team's attacking midfielder and one of Spain's most promising players, Joaquin, who plays for Sevilla. Eurofootball.com provides visitors with a Lithuanian translation of the interview.
How did the training camp go for the Spanish national team?
Pretty good. No one seemed tense, we were all just focused on the championship. There is a positive atmosphere in the team and we hope that this time we will finally achieve something.
What kind of exercises did you do during training?
We didn't run around the field at full speed. We paid more attention to ball control, penalty taking, shots, and passes - the main elements of the game, which are definitely more important than physical preparation.
Would you hesitate if you had to take a penalty kick, after missing a very important penalty kick in the World Cup against South Korea?
(Laughs) No doubts. I would take that penalty - it would definitely not be a problem.
Spain will play the first match against Russia. What do you know about this country?
We know that it won't be easy to play against them. They may not have prominent stars, but they play well together. Plus, they have [Aleksandr] Mostovoy - a great player who will have a big impact on Russia's game. They will definitely be well prepared for these matches, and we will have to work hard to beat them.
Could Euro 2004 be Mostovoy's last championship?
Yes. It's a shame that this could be his last opportunity to shine. He plays fantastically. But I am sure that in Russia, a new generation of young footballers is growing, who hopefully will be just as talented.
Do you consider Portugal a strong opponent in Group A?
Well, it will definitely be very difficult to play against them. They will play at home and will have a lot of local fans supporting them. Moreover, they have players like Luis Figo, Deco, and Rui Costa - top-level players playing for the most powerful clubs, so Portugal will definitely be a tough opponent for us.
Have you planned out different scenarios for how Spain could reach the semi-finals of the championship?
(Laughs) I have looked at various scenarios, but the best way is to take it step by step and try to win every match we play. The most important thing is to get out of the group, and then look ahead and hope that our success will continue.
Are you disappointed that you are not included in the coach's planned starting lineup?
No, I am not disappointed. Joseba [Etxeberria] is a great player. It will be a motivation for me to continue working hard to earn a place in the starting lineup.
Did Raul and Fernando Morientes look dangerous during training?
Yes, very dangerous. I really don't think Spain will have problems in attack with players like Raul, Morientes, Valeron, or Torres. Raul and Morientes know each other very well, even if they didn't play together last season. They spent a lot of time playing together at Real Madrid and they did very well. I hope they can repeat the same with the Spanish national team in Portugal.
