Aragones hits out at Ramos

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-21  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

SERGIO Ramos had to be calmed by Spain teammate Carlos Marchena during a heated discussion with coach Luis Aragones at training yesterday.

Ramos appeared to take issue with something Aragones said while he was talking to the team before Marchena pulled the 22-year-old defender to one side to end the exchange.

"I'm not going to tell you anything about what was said," striker Fernando Torres said when asked about the incident. "We were just talking about music," he added with a smile.

Aragones defended Ramos after criticism of his mediocre form following the first two games but said the player still had a lot to learn in terms of his behavior on and off the pitch.

"There are certain codes of football Sergio has to understand," the coach told reporters. "The better player you are, the more discipline you have to have in every sense.

"He is a great person but at times he has done some things he shouldn't and we've talked about it."

Spain is aiming to shake off the underachievers tag when it takes on Italy on Sunday in the quarterfinals. Its impressive stroll through the group stage with maximum points has raised hopes again but even if it beats an improving Italian side it will most likely then have to overcome the flying Dutch and battling Germans to lift the trophy.

The Italians are hoping to make the most of inputs from their injured captain Fabio Cannavaro, who plays for Real Madrid and can offer a wealth of advice to his fellow defenders on how to stop Spain's surging strikers - David Villa and Torres.

"They're both very dangerous one-on-one," Cannavaro said. "They might have more individual quality than us, but we're more of a team."

Villa leads the tournament with four goals, and Torres has scored once.

Cannavaro sent a message to his Madrid teammate Iker Casillas, Spain's goalkeeper.

"But he hasn't responded and I don't know why," Cannavaro said. "Casillas is formidable, but Buffon is the best goalkeeper in the world."