Enrique fears no foe for World Cup title as Spain take on Japan

LUIS Enrique insists Spain will not take any chances by trying to engineer a specific result against Japan in an attempt to avoid Brazil in the World Cup quarterfinals.

La Roja face Samurai Blue today knowing a victory will secure top spot in Group E and set up a last- 16 clash with the runners- up from Group F.

But that would also put them on track to play the Selecao in the last eight.

Trying to avoid Brazil has been a topic of much debate during Spain’s media duties in the past few days, and Luis Enrique even confessed to discussing the situation with his team.

But trying to manipulate a result that would see Spain finish second is far too risky for Luis Enrique’s liking. “Great question, we’ve wondered about this and reflected on it. From a professional point of view, we are only thinking of winning because the four teams can qualify,” he said.

“We want to be first, we cannot and should not speculate. It’s very human to talk about it, we have done it, but it’s useless to choose. “Imagine, we reach minute 95, we are drawing 0- 0, we are winners of the group. But then just before fulltime, Costa Rica and Japan score. You’ve speculated the entire game and then in the last 15 seconds you concede. That’s it and you’re out.