Del Bosque backs Iniesta for award

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque wants Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta to win the 2012 Fifa Ballon d’Or.

Iniesta played a major role as Spain swept all before them to win Euro 2012, and has also earned plaudits for his continued good performances at club level.

And although many have suggested the three-man race for the individual award will be dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Del Bosque believes Iniesta has a good chance of coming out on top.

“I hope that Iniesta wins the Ballon d’Or, and I think that he will have a lot of votes,” he told AS.

Del Bosque also defended his recent squad selections, stating that he is spoilt for choice and often finds it difficult to accommodate all of the talented players available to Spain.

“We try to be fair, but you can never please everybody,” he said.

“The complicated thing with Spain is not calling up new players, but finding space for them. For some to come in, others have to go out. Those that are in have shown that they are capable. It’s not easy.

Del Bosque is confident the competition for places is playing a major part in keeping the squad hungry for success.

“We have a stable block of players,” he said.

“I believe that this group still has legs. The most important thing is that these players maintain the desire to win and do not settle for what they have already done.

“But they are showing that they are capable. They showed it this summer, when they won the Euros after winning the World Cup. And they have also shown it in keeping Spain at the top of the Fifa rankings over the past five years. If winning the World Cup, or the Euros, proves a good month of competition, then being number one for five years proves more.”