koclokindoblog, 2 Mei 2012, Former Spain captain Fernando Hierro believes the fitness of David Villa will be a key to his country's chances of winning Euro 2012.
The Barcelona forward, 30, has been out of action since fracturing his left tibia in December last year, and is reportedly closing in on a return.
Hierro, who retired in 2005, said on Tuesday the fitness of Spain's all-time leading goalscorer was crucial to their chances of success.
"I think that it's important for Villa to be fit because he's a very important goalscorer for the team," Hierro said.
"Players' form is constantly changing, especially toward the final phases of international competitions because of the accumulated fatigue.
"There are a lot of matches in very little time. I think that Vicente del Bosque will know that the decision has to be made at the end of the season in May and not before."
The reigning world and European champions have been drawn alongside Italy, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland in Group C for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, which starts on June 8.
Hierro, now the general manager of Malaga, believes the Euro 2008 quarter-final win against Italy was a breakthrough Spain needed.
"I think that a lot has changed. There was a very important moment for Spanish football, and that was the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 in Vienna against Italy," he said.
"We had come from a generation of players that always got knocked out in the final phase, usually around the quarter-finals.
"We were never able to get through to the final. I've always said in previous interviews that I didn't know what competition it would be in, but when Spain got through the quarter-finals they would go far.
"I think we had a psychological barrier that we needed to break."
The Barcelona forward, 30, has been out of action since fracturing his left tibia in December last year, and is reportedly closing in on a return.
Hierro, who retired in 2005, said on Tuesday the fitness of Spain's all-time leading goalscorer was crucial to their chances of success.
"I think that it's important for Villa to be fit because he's a very important goalscorer for the team," Hierro said.
"Players' form is constantly changing, especially toward the final phases of international competitions because of the accumulated fatigue.
"There are a lot of matches in very little time. I think that Vicente del Bosque will know that the decision has to be made at the end of the season in May and not before."
The reigning world and European champions have been drawn alongside Italy, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland in Group C for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, which starts on June 8.
Hierro, now the general manager of Malaga, believes the Euro 2008 quarter-final win against Italy was a breakthrough Spain needed.
"I think that a lot has changed. There was a very important moment for Spanish football, and that was the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 in Vienna against Italy," he said.
"We had come from a generation of players that always got knocked out in the final phase, usually around the quarter-finals.
"We were never able to get through to the final. I've always said in previous interviews that I didn't know what competition it would be in, but when Spain got through the quarter-finals they would go far.
"I think we had a psychological barrier that we needed to break."
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