World Champions: Spain can retain their crown with the help of new faces
A change in personnel for Spain at this summer’s World Cup may well result in a change of style, but fans of the footballing giants will be hoping that the outcome is the same in Brazil.
The Spaniards are bidding to win retain their World Cup crown, and the inclusion of three new faces looks set to enhance their chances.
In the 2013 Champions League semi-finals, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund blew Real Madrid and Barcelona out of the competition in style – the famous Spanish duopoly had seemingly lost its power in European football, questions were suddenly being asked about whether ‘tiki-taka’ football was dead, and what the future held for the hypnotic style of football.
The consensus was that Spain had to move with the times, that they were simply passing their way into nothingness, and that teams had sussed them out. Spanish football was Kaput, finito.
Tiki-Taka Trampled: Bayern defeat Barcelona in the 2013 Champions League
This year Spain has reigned on the European stage. Diego Simone’s Atletico Madrid won La Liga in the most dramatic fashion, and both the Champions League and Europa League finals were all Spanish affairs.
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but in the case of experienced manager Vicente Del Bosque, it seems you can. The calm and collected figure has won two Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles as a manager, as well as leading Spain to the 2012 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship – amazingly the side did not concede a single goal in the knockout stages in either competition.
The inclusion of Alavaro Negredo, Javi Martinez and Diego Costa illustrates Spain’s ambition to physically match their opponents this summer, whilst still retaining the famous Spanish swagger when in possession.
In qualifying, Spain averaged 74% possession in their matches, the highest figure of any UEFA nation, who says ‘tiki-taka’ is dead?
In previous major tournaments it seemed Spain had one way and one way only of playing, pass, pass, pass. But there’s a whole host of game plans that Del Bosque seems set to utilise starting next month, and even a Spanish ‘B’ team would prove too good for the majority of sides heading to Brazil.
The greatest international team of all time has got better.
A reactive style of football is now commonplace when combating a team that tries to pass you to death, we saw it with Mourinho’s Chelsea at Anfield last month, it’s not popular, but containment and incisive counter attacking football can get results.
What Spain have to do is use the likes of Pedro and Jesus Navas to do exactly that. They can mix it up should the likes of Xavi and Iniesta fail to break down defensive lines with their ball retention in matches.
The midfield sees those two, along with Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso form a kind of possession quarter, charged with keeping the ball and constructing attacks.
If you thought those players were good, it pays to delve into the back-up options too.
The likes of David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla and Juan Mata give Del Bosque chances to experiment and beef up his options out wide, while up front Diego Costa joins Negredo and Fernando Llorente in attacking options should the Spanish feel the need to alter the style in matches.
Diego Costa is the key man for the side. The powerful striker offers aggression, strength, and the opportunity to buck the popular opinion that Spain don’t like physical football matches.
Having opted to represent Spain instead of Brazil, the forward will no doubt be the subject of jeers in Brazil, and that should spur him on.
The Missing Piece: Costa can provide the goals for glory
In between the sticks, the manager has a decision to make. The like of which any international manager would love to have – do they start Iker Casillas?
Fresh from his side’s Champions League glory last night, the keeper has spent much of the past season as a substitute at the Bernabeu, and the likes of David De Gea and Pepe Reina both represent capable replacements.
Germany and Brazil have the weight of their respective nations on their shoulders, the Spain squad have been and won at major tournaments before, have won countless domestic trophies, and even managed to drop one trophy under a bus – they won’t be fazed.
Before they lost to Brazil at the Confederations Cup last summer, Spain had gone 29 competitive matches without losing – they’re expected to advance through their group, and it’s likely that the two will meet in the knockout rounds, providing Iniesta and co. the opportunity to avenge that defeat.
Lessons Learnt: Confederations Cup defeat last year
A fast start will be on the agenda for Del Bosque’s men in Brazil. In the 27 games since the 2010 World Cup, they have won 74% of the matches in which they’ve scored first, and 89% of their games have seen fewer than 4.5 goals – when Spain score early they rarely lose.
This side still have a big tournament in them. They have shown that the mental strength and the togetherness as a group is there, and Diego Costa finally gives them an added dimension and the big centre forward they’ve been crying out for in major tournaments.
No European side has ever won the World Cup in South America, but if La Roja can adapt to the conditions and perform to the best of their ability, that statistic looks set to tumble as Costa and company look set to serve up a footballing treat in Brazil.
By Alex Stedman – @astedman1