Perennial underachievers turned world-beaters. After years of being cast as talented letdowns, Spain romped through Austria and Switzerland to conquer Euro 2008, only the second international trophy in the country’s history. What’s more, they continued a world-record 35-game unbeaten streak thereafter and still found time to garner a 100 per cent record from their UEFA qualifying group, another record. Their reward is possibly the easiest World Cup group for any top seed this summer.
Blessed with a swathe of world-class players in every position, Spain’s embarrassment of riches is best personified in the lonely figure of Arsenal’s midfield maestro turned dugout spectator Cesc Fábregas, never a first-team starter. And whilst top contenders such as England have struggled for years to settle on their first-team shot-stopper, Spain’s 23-man squad boasts three world-class keepers in Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina and Barcelona’s still uncapped Victor Valdes. Mirroring the possession-heavy exquisite passing of domestic champions Barcelona, Spain can pass their opponents to death before striking with perhaps the world’s best strike partnership, David Villa and Fernando Torres.
Star Player: David Villa
With 33 goals in 56 international appearances, Barca new boy Villa is the bookie’s favourite for top goal scorer and it’s easy to see the defences of Honduras, Chile and Switzerland as mere target practice for their experienced striker. Having never scored less than 20 goals in all competitions every season since 2000-2001, Villa international form benefit greatly from the incisive support of his newfound club team-mates Andrés Iniesta and Xavi.
Manager: Vicente Del Bosque
Spain’s domination of the international scene post-2006 has been so seamless it’s easy to forget that coach Vicente Del Bosque was only appointed after Luis Aragonés’ Euro 2008 victory. What wasn’t broke has largely been unfixed, with Del Bosque sometimes experimenting with a 4-5-1 formation in the absence of striker Fernando Torres. Since Vicente’s appointment, Spain have cruised to 22 wins and just a single defeat, with no draws whatsoever.
Famed for an astonishing four years at the helm of Real Madrid, Del Bosque led his side to two Champions League and La Liga titles, whilst harnessing the talents and ego’s of club President Florentino Pérez’s burgeoning “Galactico†project. In one of the craziest decisions in management history, Del Bosque’s contract was not renewed in 2003; a decision which has left Real in the underachieving, management merry-go-round quagmire it finds itself in today. After an unsuccessful, aborted spell at Besiktas, Vicente took on the Spanish role after a three-year managerial absence. He will profoundly aware that despite the hopeful chatter of his side’s chances this summer, this historic Spanish side will remain Aragonés’ achievement unless he can supersede his predecessors title.
Prediction: Winners
After scientifically using a marker to etch out Spain’s probable road to the final, we’re counting on a mouth-watering Brazil Vs Spain final. Inarguably the sides with the best international records of the last four years, we feel Spain have more strength in-depth and for a neutral, a more attractive style of play. We’re predicting only the eight country to lift the trophy will be crowned this summer and Spain can notch another record as the only European side to win the cup off-continent.
Odds: 4/1 favourites
Irishness rating: 5/10
It was the Spanish that ended the Irish dream through a penalty shoot-out in the 2002 World Cup. The winner of that second-round tie faced plucky host nation South Korea (and their let’s just say, remarkably “lucky†officiating decisions during the tournament), so it’s quite likely that a Roy Keane-less Ireland could have gone all the way.
So it’s quite easy to feel bitter. But it’s hard not to love the way this particular team play the game, with Iniesta, Xavi, Villa and Torres quite literally mind-blowing sex on a football pitch.
If they were a car they’d be…
A Lamborghini. All class.
