Spain
Group : G with the Netherlands, Chile and Australia
Current Fifa Ranking : 1st with 1507 points
World Cup Appearances : 1934, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010
Best Achievement : Winners in 2010
Head Coach : Vicente Del Bosque
Captain : Iker Casillas
Being the first footballing nation to win three major back to back titles in history certainly etches their part in history after their 2008, 2010 and 2012 exploits. Del Bosque’s side are probably the first contenders for the title due to their recent major victories and don’t seem like a weaker side than their recent Euro 2012 winning team. The tiki-taka style of play instilled by Barcelona’s midfield and enforced by the coach works wonders in mentally tiring out opponents, yet also deprives the squad of several goals.
La Furia Roja can be content with avoiding a group of death situation yet still face tough opposition in the face of the Netherlands, Chile and Australia. The Dutch will want a battle hoping to brush aside their previous World Cup agony, whilst Chile have an impressive side fronted by Barca forward Alexis Sanchez and Juventus’ Arturo Vidal. The Socceroos got past the group stages in the 2006 World Cup, solidifying their status as this group’s dark horses.
The majority of the World Cup and Euro winning stars are still present, fronted by leader Iker Casillas. A plethora of highly skilled players is at the coach’s disposal, with the frontline consisting Atletico Madrid’s David Villa, Chelsea’s Torres, Tottenham’s Soldado and Manchester City’s Negredo. Their midfield is even more impressive considering that Barcelona’s Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas and Busquets are just some of the options. There’s also Chelsea’s Mata, Manchester City’s Silva, Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso and Arsenal’s Cazorla to further add to Del Bosque’s positive headache. In defence, Puyol and Pique still give their usual incredible contributions, though one can feel that this might be the Barcelona captain’s last chance at something big with his national squad. Sergio Ramos is another leader in defence, adding to what is already a very robust backline.
Chances are Spain will top their group, given that they play with the same focus and tenacity shown in previous tournaments. Scorers may vary yet one can imagine Villa or Torres impressing, even if the latter’s form is inconsistent at club level. They can definitely be seen as reaching the final or even going all the way through to the trophy, yet it seems that the overall competition involved may be tougher than in previous editions.
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