Fabregas hopes to let feet do the talking
17 Jun 2006ATL World Soccer
Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas has left his fellow Spaniards bamboozled two days before Spain bid to seal their place in the last 16 of the World Cup with victory over Group H rivals Tunisia in Stuttgart.
The teenage midfielder is however hoping to trade his impressive trilingual skills for more playing time as Spain look to build on their sizzling form which could lead them to the promised land of the latter stages.
Fabregas, one of the sensations of the English Premiership this season, was a pivotal part of Arsenal's charge towards the Champions League final in Paris where they were beat by his former club Barcelona.
But as the latest recruit to Luis Aragones' squad, the 19-year-old from Barcelona is only just finding his feet.
Fabregas was given a chance to prove himself after coming on as a second half substitute when Spain dismantled Ukraine 4-0 last Wednesday in Leipzig - a result which has put them in with the contenders.
Speaking after their morning training session, Fabregas left teammates Sergio Ramos and Carlos Marchena, and the entire Spanish media, speechless when he first spoke Spanish, answered questions in near-perfect English and then waxed lyrical in his regional tongue of Catalan - which most Spanish cannot understand.
For most, it is no surprise.
Fabregas is known for his language skills, and while living in London he combines his Arsenal career with studies in economics.
The Spaniard would perhaps be tempted to ditch some of those qualities if it meant he could play a leading role in Aragones' side.
He admits his chances would improve if Spain, who are course to break their 56-year jinx of failing to get past the quarter-finals, keep hitting the net against Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
"I think we just have to take things step by step. We had a great start and we're playing good football but we're not looking too far ahead," he told AFP.
"If we can win the next game it's always good for your confidence, and then we can try to enjoy it as much as we can.
"But it's one step at a time. We have to concentrate on the next game so that we can finish top in the group. Then we can perhaps give some opportunities to other players in the team."
There's no point in fixing something that isn't broken, and so far Aragones' 4-3-3 formation looks to be running without a hitch.
Nevertheless Aragones has shown he will rest key players when possible.
Against Ukraine, he sent on Raul for two-goal hero David Villa in the 55th minute with David Albelda also replacing Xabi Alonso, who scored Spain's opener.
Fabregas made his World Cup entry when he came on for Liverpool's Luis Garcia for the final 23 minutes, an experience which, like the rest of his career, he appears to be taking in his stride.
"We had a great match against Ukraine, but we can't allow ourselves to get carried away by one good result," he said.
On a personal note, Fabregas's chances of edging out any of Aragones' starting lineup may well depend on their goals rate.
And despite the possibility of being used elsewhere than the defensive midfield role he plays in at Arsenal, Fabregas said he is ready to adapt.
"It's sometime difficult to new systems or a new game, or switching from the left to the right," he added.
"But I'm happy doing what I'm doing now. It doesn't matter whether it's in an Arsenal style or a Spain style. I just want to play."
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
