Spain need to win at all costs

Anything less than a win for Spain could see one of the pre-tournament favorites making an ignominious exit.

Anything less than a win for Spain against Honduras on Monday could see one of the pre-tournament favorites making an ignominious early exit from the World Cup.

The shock 1-0 loss to Switzerland in its opening game was only the second defeat for Spain in 49 matches and means that the team cannot afford to slip up again in its remaining two Group H fixtures.

The 2008 European champions play Honduras at Johannesburgs Ellis Park. Both teams lost their opening games 1-0 and trail Switzerland and Chile by three points following the first round of matches. Spain striker Fernando Torres is confident that the teams bad day has passed and that it will not be leaving the World Cup early like many Spanish sides have done in the past.

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The 26-year-old Liverpool striker will be hoping he gets the nod from coach Vicente del Bosque to start the match,after coming on as a substitute in the game against Switzerland.

Ive been training for more than two weeks with my teammates and little by little Ive forgotten about the injury, said Torres,who is recovering from surgery on his right knee in April. Its up to the coach. He decides.

Unsurprisingly,Spain has encountered a torrent of criticism following the Swiss defeat,much of it directed at the coach. Former coach Luis Aragones,who led Spain to the 2008 European title,said his successor was wrong in playing two holding midfielders Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets – and only Villa up front. That left Torres and creative midfielder Cesc Fabregas out of the lineup. Fabregas did not even come on as a substitute.

Fabregas the key

Defender Gerard Pique said Fabregas could provide what the Spanish were lacking. If the coach opts for him,hell help us very much, Pique said. Since the defeat,the Spanish players have insisted there will be no change to the teams possession-based,quick-touch game regardless of who starts.

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Its hard to evaluate,especially since the system worked well in the warmup games coming in, Alonso said. The coach makes the decisions and whatever he decides,the players back him 100 percent.

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda is expecting the full force of a Spanish backlash. We should not be distracted by the (Swiss) result, Rueda said. As one of the favorites and having lost their first game,Spain will be even more determined.