According to an article in today's Marca football daily, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Ángel María Villar, has met twice with Luis Aragonés to discuss the national coach's recent behaviour. It seems that the two men met last Friday and again yesterday to discuss the controversy surrounding the recent Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Dismissing rumours that Aragonés is in danger of losing his job, Villar is, nonetheless, insisting on a change of attitude, especially with regard to the press. Aragonés, who was very unhappy with media reaction to Spain's 1-1 draw with Iceland, refused to talk to the media following Spain's 2-0 victory against Latvia last Wednesday.

Villar has reportedly made it clear that Aragonés must make amends prior to the crucial match against Denmark next month by calling a press conference on the 4th October to announce the squad and answer questions regarding his selection criteria and tactics.

Saturday, 8th September
Iceland 1 Spain 1
Latvia 1 Northern Ireland 0
Sweden 0 Denmark 0

Wednesday, 12 September 2007
Denmark 4 Liechtenstein 0
Iceland 2-2 Northern Ireland
Spain 2 Latvia 0

Group F, points and goal difference
1 Sweden 19 (+13)+
2 Spain  19 (+9)*
3 Northern Ireland 16 (+3)*
4 Denmark 14 (+8)+
5 Iceland 8 (-9)*
6 Latvia 6 (-4)+
7 Liechtenstein 4 (-20)*
* played 9
+ played 8
 
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Denmark v Spain
Iceland v Latvia
Liechtenstein v Sweden

Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Denmark v Latvia
Liechtenstein v Iceland
Sweden v Northern Ireland

Saturday, 17 November 2007
Latvia v Liechtenstein
Northern Ireland v Denmark
Spain v Sweden

Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Denmark v Iceland
Spain v Northern Ireland
Sweden v Latvia

Aragonés to step down after Euro 2008
By: thinkSPAIN
Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Spain's national football coach, Luis Aragonés, confirmed during an interview broadcast on Cadena SER radio last night that he will be stepping down after next year's European Cup finals. "I've spoken to the Federation and told them to start thinking about my replacement. It's very difficult, not to say impossible, that I'll be carrying on after Euro 2008," he said.

The announcement follows the appointment of former Spain and Real Madrid defender, Fernando Hierro, as the new sporting director of the Spanish Royal Football Federation (RFEF).

Aragonés, who said that he is tired, fed up with the constant media attention and feels that he has lost the confidence of the players, although they claim the contrary, confirmed during last night's interview that he has already spoken to Hierro and told him of his intention to step down.

It is widely rumoured that former Real manager, Vicente del Bosque, will be named as Aragonés's replacement.

Following a lacklustre 1-1 draw against Iceland last weekend, Spain must beat Latvia tonight (10pm, TVE 1) at Oviedo's new Carlos Tartiere stadium to keep their qualification hopes alive.