By PAUL LOGOTHETIS
AP Sports Writer
Associated Press Sports
updated 10:35 a.m. ET June 19, 2012
GNIEWINO, Poland (AP) -Even after finishing first in Group C and reaching the European Championship quarterfinals, Spain's doubters remain.
The defending champions won two of their three games against defensive-minded teams, but questions are still being raised as Spain coach Vicente del Bosque experiments with a six-man midfield.
Spain, which will play either France, England or Ukraine in the next round, may not have been convincing against Croatia on Monday, but winning Euro 2008 and then the World Cup has made it difficult to please everyone. Del Bosque said Tuesday he had again watched the 1-0 victory over Croatia and, despite so much pessimism, he thought his team had dominated.
"Even though we won we're left with the sensation that things went badly," Del Bosque said. "If you look closely, we performed well."
Spain has scored a tournament high six goals and conceded only one, yet apart from a 4-0 win over Ireland the team has struggled to find the net without the use of a traditional striker as a reference point. Del Bosque preferred to start a six-man midfield against Italy and opted for it in the second half against Croatia. While Spain managed to generate chances against the Croats, it lacked that finishing touch in front of goal until substitute Jesus Navas scored in the 88th minute.
"Things have gone well with our defined style of play so we shouldn't doubt it. That would be the worst thing we could do. To have any doubts, within the team or outside of it, would put something that has carried us to where we are today under suspicion," Del Bosque said. "We (became a football power) so quickly that we don't know how to appreciate what we really have."
Spain leads the tournament in shots on goal (39), passes completed (1,978) and attempted (2,411), possession (62 percent) and corners (26).
Andres Iniesta, Spain's standout player so far, said the players felt some fatigue against Croatia as Del Bosque's starting lineup has been relatively unchanged since the opening draw against Italy.
"I suppose the match was marked by all kinds of phases, moments when we were looking good with the ball and dominating and also moments of doubt which come from knowing if you concede a goal it could mean you're out," Iniesta said Tuesday. "I don't believe our level has dropped. I think we look strong even if we go through some bad moments in games, just like all teams. We're mistaken if we think we'll win each game 3-0."
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said Spain was no longer the tournament favorite in his mind. Del Bosque, however, stepped up to defend his lack of rotations with a bench that includes Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla and Fernando Llorente, while warning his decisions were taken in the face of opponents that afforded no luxuries.
"In football nobody is unbeatable. Just a few days ago everyone was complimenting us," the former Real Madrid coach said. "We live in a time of extremism, of the good and the bad. There's no middle point."
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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