Navas is ace up Spain’s sleeve

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque insists he is not about to abandon his pragmatic approach and field all three of his main strikers at once - having not fielded any to start with at Euro 2012 against Italy.

But after Jesus Navas came off the bench to deliver victory against Croatia it is clear the Spanish have firepower in reserve.

The 26-year-old Sevilla forward is hoping his half hour cameo after replacing Fernando Torres will mean he features larger than ever in del Bosque’s thoughts.

Although his arrival could not be said in itself to have made a silk purse out of what in truth was a sow’s ear of a match it did, along with the even more belated entrance of Cesc Fabregas, give the Spanish their second wind.

His goal will likely not win him a starting place in the quarter-finals at Donetsk, but he has at least reminded everybody in the camp of his general utility and Del Bosque will be pleased his joker in the pack is evidently ready to be played at the moment his coach judges most apposite.

Del Bosque had generous words for his substitute on Tuesday.

“Navas is a player who is always brimming with enthusiasm and who transmits this joy to the group. Along with Pedro, he is probably one of the most active players who always manage to spark a change in the team,” said the coach referring to those rare occasions when the Furia Roja run into a cul de sac, chasing too much style above substance.

Navas insists he will play whatever role Del Bosque assigns him even if it is from the bench.

“I’m here to bring as much to the table as I can. It’s up to the boss to see how he can best use me,” he told reporters.

Navas has previously been held back by anxiety about being away from his home entourage - a condition which briefly moved him to quit international football.

That cost him a place in the 2005 Under-20 tournament in the Netherlands and also discouraged other clubs, including Barcelona, to come in for him. But psychological help has helped him make progress and here he is in Poland showing his considerable ability.