Snubbed Joaquin softens Spain attack

Valencia winger Joaquin, dropped from the Spain squad for today's Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden, has attempted to soften his inflammatory comments about the national side and coach Luis Aragones.

"Maybe I didn't express myself very well, I wanted to say that these are difficult times for the national side," the 25-year-old winger told a news conference yesterday, a day after saying the team was in chaos.

"I didn't want to go as far as what they have said in the papers.

"I wanted to say that things are not so clear for the national side after the defeat against Northern Ireland but it wasn't my aim to attack the national team nor Luis Aragones."

It was certainly a less forthright approach than he took in an interview with Punto Radio on Thursday night.

"Right now the national team is a joke, it's in chaos and not even Luis knows which way to turn," he said.

"I know what I'm saying won't help me get back into the squad but it's what I feel. All that is left to me is to work hard to try and regain the confidence of the coach."

The build-up to the Sweden game has been overshadowed by a national debate over Aragones's decision to drop captain Raul.

Aragones's future as national coach has also been questioned following the team's shock 3-2 defeat to Northern Ireland in their last qualifier.

The 68-year-old tendered his resignation shortly after last month's game in Belfast but reversed that decision almost immediately.

Joaquin, who has played 42 games for Spain, appeared to put out by the fact that attention was focused on the decision to drop Raul.

"The press are only talking about the fact that Raul has been left out but they haven't said anything about me," he said.

The winger, who has been replaced in the squad by club colleague Miguel Angel Angulo, said that Raul did not deserve to be dropped after scoring three goals in a week for Real Madrid.