World Cup - Del Bosque unlikely to show emotions

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (AP):

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque isn't exactly known for joyous celebrations when his team scores, and his stoic behaviour isn't about to change in the World Cup final.

Del Bosque is on the verge of leading the European champions to their greatest triumph, and the subdued Spanish coach isn't going to waste any energy by showing his emotions when there is a game to win.

While Argentina coach Diego Maradona is known for public demonstrations of tenderness, Del Bosque has never openly celebrated any of Spain's goals.

The 59-year-old Del Bosque left little possibility that will change in tomorrow's final against the Netherlands at Soccer City.

"I don't know what my reaction will be. These are spontaneous things, not prefabricated, and I take an enormous amount of satisfaction every time we score a goal," Del Bosque told The Associated Press from his team's training base in Potchefstroom.

"I'm not much for showing external emotion anyway."

And what would a World Cup triumph mean?

"It will mean we've achieved what we were asked to do," Del Bosque said. "Satisfaction, nothing more."

The mild-mannered Del Bosque took over straight after Luis Aragones led Spain to the European Championship title two years ago. Although he immediately stuck to his predecessor's possession-based, attacking style, that is where the similarities end.

While Aragones possessed a brash, out-spoken personality and attacked players to motivate them, Del Bosque cuts a more fatherly figure who has a strong work ethic and a modest command.

Aragones stalked the sidelines, waving his hands above his head. Del Bosque is a quiet figure that rarely strays from Spain's bench.

Difficult to achieve success

"A national team has to manage personal relations well because, if not, it's difficult to achieve success. In that sense, we're in good shape," Del Bosque said. "That's why a lot of time when the game ends I don't seem to be so happy - that's because I'm thinking about the players that wanted to be on the field and couldn't be."

Leaving the likes of Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas on the bench is probably the cruellest part of the job, Del Bosque says, something that eats away at him.

Fabregas has perhaps been the biggest star player to miss out, having played an important role in the quarter-final win over Paraguay but little else. The Arsenal playmaker didn't feature in the 1-0 semi-final win over Germany. David Silva has also spent much of the time watching from the bench.

"I don't think the coach has to qualify his reasons unless they don't work out," said Del Bosque, who played 18 matches for Spain during a successful playing career. "The best thing is to act with justice, to treat everyone equally. These are sporting decisions and nothing more.

"They haven't all been able to take part 100 per cent like they would have liked, but it has been necessary at this World Cup. They played a big part in getting here, don't forget."

Having ranked his team's dismantling of Germany as one of its best-ever performances, Del Bosque is expecting a very equal contest against a Dutch team known for attacking football.

"They're very similar to us, players of great technical ability in midfield," Del Bosque said. "Players of great quality and very fast that don't improvise as much as we do but play a more dangerous direct game. A very dangerous team."