Former Spain goalkeeper Santiago Canizares believes Spain’s World Cup exit came as a result of relying too long on the same players.
La Roja’s defence of the trophy won in 2010 will come to an end on Monday with their final group game, against Australia.
Canizares, formerly of Celta Vigo, Real Madrid and Valencia, among others, has said Spain needed to blood new players in the period before the tournament.
“My assessment is that the whole world has changed and we haven’t kept pace,” Marca reports Canizares as saying.
“The players themselves say they weren’t good physically and didn’t arrive safely mentally.
“[Changes should have been made] before the World Cup.”
Canizares was speaking prior to taking part in the Costa Almeria rally, and says he now feels as comfortable behind the wheel of a rally car as he did in goal.
