Tahiti share Group B with Nigeria, Uruguay and Spain and oceaniafootball.com is pleased to be bringing you a rundown of the three teams Tahiti will face at the tournament with the focus today on Spain.
The Oceania representatives inscribed a momentous piece of history into the ledger for Tahitian football when Jonathan Tehau scored their first ever goal at the FIFA Confederations Cup in the 54th minute of their opening game against Nigeria. Tahiti now has another point to prove against the number one ranked team in the world.
History is in the making for both sides though the stakes differ greatly. A match-up between Spain and Tahiti is a game of the extremes with the professionals who fight for the one trophy that has so far eluded them, against the amateurs who want to give their all to represent football’s minnows.
“We’re here to represent the millions of amateur soccer players and fans,” coach Eddy Etaeta said.”I hope we’ll give a good image of amateur football.”
One of the Tahiti coach’s dreams was to see his side score a goal, a dream which became a reality against Nigeria. The Toa Aito can now write another page in that history book with Etaeta stating ”a goal against Spain, it would be even more incredible!”
Spain has started the quest for Confederations Cup glory with a 2-1 win against Uruguay which gives them a solid advantage towards reaching the semi-finals.
“They are three great points that place us in the best position to put us in the semi-finals,” Del Bosque said after the game.
The European champions are participating in their second Confederations Cup, their best result being third place in 2009 in South Africa. In Brazil, La Roja want to write a different scenario with a happier ending.
Barcelona midfielder Xavi reveals the loss against the United States in 2009 was hugely frustrating and the Spanish would like to put any mistakes in the past behind them in order to add a new trophy to their shelves.
“We still haven’t digested what happened four years ago in South Africa. We want to go and claim this title that Spain and our generation are lacking,’’ Xavi said.
Olympic champions in 1992, European champions in 2008 and 2012 and World champions in 2010, Spain are racing for another trophy in Brazil. The majority of Spanish players are developing in the greatest clubs in the world like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea while the Tahitians play in their local clubs at home in French Polynesia. Marama Vahirua is the only player from the Polynesian squad with professional experience.
Spain and Tahiti have met once before at a FIFA football tournament during the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009. Those players from the U-20 generation that have made the step up to the national side include Stephane Faatiarau, Teheivarii Ludivion, Heimano Bourebare, Stanley Atani, Lorenzo Tehau, Teaonui Tehau, Steevy Chong Hue for Tahiti, while for Spain the only members of 2009’s match-winning side are Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea FC) and Jordi Alba (FC Barcelona).
It will be a big challenge for Tahiti to overcome history on 20 June but after showing their fighting spirit against Nigeria they will be giving their all against Spain when they meet at Estadio De Maracana.
Spain winger Pedro expects Tahiti to come onto the field with every intention of causing problems for his team.
“Tahiti will do everything they can to drustrate us. It’s an important game, and we must respect our opponents. We must also make sure we don’t take victory as a given, or think too much about the number of goals we might score.”
Meanwhile Etaeta is more than aware that the match will be a step up from that against Nigeria.
“There is reason for concern after watching Spain’s performance against Uruguay. Tactically, we need to be better than we were against Nigeria and on a physical level, we’ll need to be stronger in the challenge.”

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