PRESSURE? ENRIQUE IS UP FOR FUN

LUIS ENRIQUE is demanding his Spain team come out swinging... and making a racket tonight.

The former Barcelona great (above) has adopted a saying made famous by tennis legend Billie Jean King as he looks to top Group E.

Spain’s coach is living by the motto ‘Pressure is a privilege’ and wants his squad to enjoy themselves as they seek the victory that will secure passage to the last 16.

American superstar King (below) coined the phrase and it adorns a plaque at Flushing Meadows.

Enrique said: “We have copied the slogan ‘Pressure is a privilege’ from the US Open. This is our privilege. We are the chosen ones here. It reflects what we are looking for.

“There are so many cliches about training camps being very strict. I don’t know who came up with this. The players have time off – why should they have to follow strict rules?

“The only rule I set when we met up 16 days ago is that we need to have fun, we need to enjoy this.”

Spain could avoid meeting tournament favourites Brazil – if they finish runners-up. But Enrique says he will be taking no chances.

He added: “We have wondered about this. We have reflected upon it. Yes, it would be better to finish runners-up.

“But what happens if it’s goalless in both games at 90 minutes? And then Japan and Costa Rica both score a goal – we’re out!”

Japan have had to cope with a flood of criticism following a tidal wave of praise as they followed up a shock victory over Germany with an insipid defeat to Costa Rica.

Head coach Hajime Moriyasu said: “We’re going to be kicking off at 4am at home.

“I guess for a lot of Japanese people it’s going to be very difficult but I hope as many people as possible will watch.

“We will be looking to meet their expectations.”

HEAD TO HEAD: Spain lead 1-0 PROBABLE LINE-UPS:

JAPAN: Gonda, Sakai, Itakura, Maya, Nagatomo, Endo, Kamada, Ito, Tanaka, Mitoma, Maeda

SPAIN: Unai Simon, Jordi Alba, Laporte, Rodrigo, Carvajal, Sergio, Pedri, Gavi, Olmo, Asensio, Ferran

REFEREE: Victor Gomes (South Africa)