Key to team’s success: Spain ready for the heat in defending their title

Spain are expecting to feel the heat in their World Cup title defence, and not just from their rivals.

Barcelona striker Pedro Rodriguez said Thursday that the hot, humid weather in the host country will be a challenge for all teams. Spain reached the final of the Confederations Cup last year, falling 3-0 in the final to Brazil.

“It’s always hot and it’s very difficult,” he said. “Last year we had matches where because of the time and the temperature, it was very complicated to adapt.”

In a World Cup that starts on June 12, “we are going to find the same thing,” Pedro told reporters in Washington, where the reigning World Cup champions have been training since Tuesday.

The stop-over in the US capital on the way to Brazil provides a chance to get used to hot, humid weather, as well as to recover from jet lag.

“We need to be able to adapt as quickly and be in good physical shape to deal with the conditions, so they don’t affect us,” Pedro said.

Other factors

“La Roja” have two Group B matches in cities where they think heat could be a factor, their opener against the Netherlands in Salvador and their second match against Chile in Rio de Janeiro.

They play a third group match in Curitiba.

Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta is already looking ahead eagerly to Spain’s June 13 opening match against the Netherlands — the team Spain beat in the 2010 final in South Africa.

“We know it is going to be very hard,” he said. “I think they’ll want to win that game, but so will we. Our objective is to be at 100 percent for the opener.”

Spain continue their preparations with a warm-up friendly on Saturday against El Salvador.

Transfer news

Meanwhile, A transfer of Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona to English club Chelsea will be “a pity” for his current club, his Barcelona and Spain teammate Pedro Rodriguez said Thursday.

“I’ve not talked with Cesc as yet. He’s a very good player for us. If he leaves it would be a shame for Barca,” Pedro said as Spain prepared for a World Cup warm-up friendly in the US capital against El Salvador on Saturday.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique had let the cat out of the bag over a supposed 33 million-euro ($45 million) move by Fabregas while chatting with Spain manager Vicente del Bosque at a press conference in Washington.

His remark was picked up by a Spanish public television microphone. No club was mentioned, but Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed his side’s interest.

It’s an unwelcome distraction as Spain prepare for their World Cup title defense, but Pedro said he didn’t think any tension would linger between Fabregas and Pique.

“They are calm about it,” he said. “It was an awkward situation, I don’t know if it will affect them.                   — AFP