Spain's Marc Pubill is expecting a tough clash against Japan in the quarter-finals. "It's getting serious, but we're here to get that gold we all want," he said. He stressed that they cannot relax at any time because the slightest mistake could cost Spain dearly.
Marc Pubill, right-back for Almeria and the Spanish national team, assured that he is not paying attention to rumours about his future and that he is focused on "getting that gold" that "everyone" wants.
"We are focused on this, which is very nice. We are here to get that gold that we all want. We are only thinking about this," he said after the last training session before the quarter-final against Japan.
"I see the team doing well. In the quarter-finals it gets serious, but it's the most beautiful thing and we're here to play this kind of game. We're going to enjoy it and try to win," he said.
Marc Pubill said he is "100%" after "a little strain" that prevented him from playing in the second game and commented on the lesson they learned from the recent 1-2 defeat against Egypt.
"We can't relax at any time. No matter how much we seem to be dominating the game and having chances, any team can put one past you. We can't concede any kind of chance," he said.
"When we have the ball we expose ourselves a bit because that's how we are; we're about having the ball, circulating, moving the ball... When we lose the ball inside or in three quarters if we're not alert to the ball, we're caught a bit unprotected," he added.
Pubill finally spoke about 'la Roja's' opponents in the quarter-finals. "Japan is a very good team, strong and intense," he said. He expects the team to be at their best to reach the semi-finals.