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Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has rejected an idea that his hands-off management style was to blame for his side finishing second in Euro 2016 Group D and landing themselves on the more difficult side of the draw. Spain were set to win the group and have a relatively straightforward path towards the final until they slipped up in their final match, with captain Sergio Ramos missing a penalty and a late counterattack goal conceded as they lost 2-1 to Croatia. Centre-back Ramos' decision to take the penalty was surprising, given specialists Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Aritz Aduriz and Bruno Soriano were all on the pitch, but Del Bosque refused to criticise after the game, saying that he always left such decisions to the players themselves. This has led to criticism of the veteran coach's laissez-faire approach -- where he trusts his experienced players to manage themselves in many ways and know what to do in most situations. Speaking to AS the coach said Ramos had been one of the designated penalty takers for the game, and his critics were going way too far. "Sergio Ramos had the conviction and confidence and he is one of those designated to take them," Del Bosque said. "We cannot force anybody to do anything. Then comes this bad-intentioned talk about self-management and these things, which sounds really bad. As if they were saying this fella is useless, controls nothing. As if I were appointed here by the town hall." Spain will likely now have to beat Italy, France and Germany to make the final, but Del Bosque said such predictions often did not work out and Croatia's round-of-16 opponent Portugal were also a dangerous team. "You never know with these things," he said. "Now Croatia must play Portugal -- does that seem easier or more difficult than Italy? Football is not like tennis -- where you always think [Roger] Federer will make it through. Football is not like that. Are you all sure that Germany will beat Slovakia? After the games everyone has the result right. But before, how much would you bet?" Reports from around the camp have claimed that Del Bosque will change around his team for the game against Italy in Paris on Monday evening, with Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke and Athletic Bilbao centre-forward Aritz Aduriz being tipped to come in. "It's true we have thought about changes, in all positions," Del Bosque stonewalled. "But then you must make a decision. We talk about this among [the coaching team] as that is our job." Antonio Conte's current Italy team were not the cliched defensive Azzurri that many pundits thought, Del Bosque said. "These are the labels that national teams get stuck with," he said. "They attack as much or more as any other country. They have two midfielders, [Marco] Parolo and [Emanuele] Giaccherini, who are practically forwards, they have two people wide, [Alessandro] Florenzi and [Antonio] Candreva, who are also very offensive and then they have [Lorenzo] Insigne and [Graziano] Pelle. "I do not see them as defensive [although] the four at the back are almost unmovable, with three very solid centre-backs. But the rest of the team is attacking, very attacking. They are direct and have a gameplan." Del Bosque said that if there were penalty kicks against Italy, he would not change his plan. "I always let the players decide. It's a symptom of strength, they are the main protagonist in the field," he said. "There is nothing better than to see the players be comfortable with the football system of play you choose. I will never impose my will. "If there is a penalty against Italy, it will be the same. A penalty is not an action that is trained. If I pick a ball now and shoot, it will be with the most incredible sense of security because no one is watching me. If there is tension then it's completely different. That is untrainable."
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