Puyol looks back to the future

Ángel María Villar Llona can afford a wry smile on Sunday as Luis Aragonés leads Spain out for the UEFA EURO 2008™ final against Germany. Successive qualifying defeats by Northern Ireland and Sweden back in autumn 2006 were greeted as a national catastrophe, yet the Spanish Football Federation president rejected both the coach's resignation and calls to replace him, insisting that both Aragonés and his charges would come good. And how they have.

Spain regrouped after returning from Stockholm, winning eight and drawing one of their remaining qualifiers to seal their spot at EURO, where they have maintained that form to reach a first final since 1984. The squad know that, win or lose against Germany in Vienna, Aragonés's journey will end at full time, strengthening the desire to send the 69-year-old off on high. "We know the criticism is part of football so you have to be ready for it," said defender Carles Puyol, looking back to those dark days. "But we have followed the coach, pulling through some tough times when we've been criticised and so has he. This has strengthened our will. We have one game left and it's important that all the players do well for the coach as he deserves it."

Maldini comparisons
So too Puyol, the shaggy-haired centre-back whose partnership with Carlos Marchena has ensured Spain go into the final on the back of clean sheets in their knockout ties against Italy and Russia. "It's very easy to play with Marchena as he's a great player," said the FC Barcelona captain. "It's unfair that he received some criticism previously but we can't control this. He's shown that he's one of the best in this tournament." At the eve-of-final press conference, Puyol was humbled to hear that Italian great Franco Baresi had compared his EURO performances to those of Paolo Maldini in his pomp. "He's one of the best in the world so I'm grateful and proud to hear this," said Puyol. With Maldini having lost two major finals for the Azzurri, the Spaniard will hope the similarities end there.
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