Andres Iniesta admitted that Spain were affected by the heat in Brazil yesterday but that they are not afraid of facing Italy next Thursday.
The midfielder was part of La Roja’s 3-0 win over Nigeria on Sunday evening in their final Confederations Cup Group B match, one that saw the Africans have more than their fair share of chances.
“It was hard in the first half,” conceded Iniesta to reporters afterwards.
“In the second we have corrected some things to put us in a better and more precise system.
“In the first half we sought to exploit the spaces.
“The heat? I have noticed it more in the second half, because we ran less.”
Spain’s victory sets them up for a semi-final against Italy this Thursday, one that the absent Mario Balotelli commented through Facebook that his team see as an opportunity for revenge on from last summer’s Euro 2012 Final that finished 4-0 to La Roja.
“Balotelli wants revenge? It will be a nice semi-final and we will see what happens. He trusts in his team and we in ours.
“We have never been afraid of an opponent and less so now.
“You have to give value to being in the semi-finals and to be in the final there is that further step to take.”
