In 12 months time, La Roja will aim to make history.
Vicente Del Bosque‘s all-conquering Spaniards head to Brazil as World Cup holders and are aiming…
In 12 months time, La Roja will aim to make history.
Vicente Del Bosque‘s all-conquering Spaniards head to Brazil as World Cup holders and are aiming to bring the trophy back home for the second time running.
For so long world football’s underachievers, Spain are now unquestionably the best international side in the game today.
It is a pressure that sits well on their shoulders as the success over the last few years has proved.
Unbeaten in 2012 and so far in 2013, the team can approach this summer’s Confederations Cup with confidence, but it is the far more glamorous title available in Rio deJaneiro next summer where Spanish minds will be concentrated.
Already the only European team to win the World Cup outside of that continent, what chance do the Spanish realistically have of achieving a unique double?
Much forward planning is required, and perhaps a reshuffle of personnel is on the cards. In so doing, should Del Bosque also consider a change in playing style?
With much of his side mined from the quarry of La Masia, you can be fairly certain that the tiki-taka style for which Barcelona have become synonymous will feature heavily once more.
Yet the rampaging Germans of Bayern Munich showed us so effectively in the Champions League semi finals that there is a way to stop the metronomic passing game, the pretty football carousel.
Lithe and athletic, the German machine dominated in all areas and their constant pressing high up the pitch was a nod to the hallmark of Guardiola’s Barca.
A shift in playing style for the modern era—at club level at least—was never more evident than in those semi final matches.
Transfer that to international level, where as many as eight Barcelona players could make up a Spanish starting XI, and you begin to understand where it is Vicente Del Bosque needs to evolve his side.
Before we look at the Spanish team as a whole, it’s worth noting that it’s not just the Germans that will present a formidable opponent in Brazil.
The hosts themselves have a half-decent squad, and their main man—Neymar—will certainly have benefitted from the first year of his Barcelona adventure.
Hulk, Oscar, Lucas Moura and Leandro Damiao will provide a proven goal threat, whilst Thiago Silva and David Luiz are more than capable of locking up the likes of Fernando Torres and David Villa.
Lest we forget their South American neighbours Argentina.
Has there ever been a better front line than that which the Albiceleste will bring to the party: Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi?
Yes, Spain will certainly have their work cut out to triumph again. So what manoeuvering should Del Bosque undertake to give his team the best chance of success?
Let’s begin from the back and work forward.
IkerCasillas will be Spain’s goalkeeper once again unless he is unlucky enough to be injured in the lead up to the tournament.
With Pepe Reina and Victor Valdes as backup, the only possible change could be the inclusion of Manchester United‘s David De Gea if he has a stellar season at Old Trafford.
Reina could, and perhaps should, be the fall guy here given that time is no longer on his side. De Gea provides a glimpse into the future and is certainly a keeper in the best Spanish tradition.
As Jordi Alba showed in the 2012 European Championship Final, he is equally adept at getting forward as he is in a more defensive role. His forward pressing needs to replicated on the right side to ensure that any opposition movement down the channels is kept to a minimum.
The right-back slot is up for grabs with Cesar Azpilicueta, Juanfran and possibly Alvaro Arbeloa vying for the starting berth.
Of those, Arbeloa has enjoyed by far the most experience at national level, yet has probably had the worst season club-wise. Both Azpilicueta and Juanfran have performed well for Chelsea and Atletico Madrid respectively.
Further, Arbeloa‘s attacking intent is minimal at best, whereas the other two excel at getting forward. However, neither yet has the experience required at the very highest level.
Therefore, by drafting Sergio Ramos back into his favoured right back position, Del Bosque not only has the luxury of a player already capped 101 times for his country marshalling the right side, but a player who is dynamic enough to push forward when required and get goals—20-plus during his first seasons at Real Madrid.
Ramos’ marauding offensive style and defensive competence perfectly suit that position.
By moving Ramos out to the right side, this opens up a central defensive vacancy—a partner for Gerard Pique.
Pique’s inclusion is a given for a couple of reasons.
On his day, there is no finer defender playing football. Someone comfortable in bringing the ball out of defence and playing a 60-yard cross-field ball with pinpoint accuracy. The sort of defender that is a dying breed in today’s game.
Gerard Pique is a lucky guy, though. A sub-par season from the elegant Catalan was never better illustrated than when he was exposed time and again against Bayern Munich. His concentration levels across the season have also not been of the level expected.
Yet Spain do not have the luxury of being able to replace him at this juncture.
So, Del Bosque needs to choose Pique’s sidekick wisely. Carles Puyol’s injury list grows ever longer, and he would do well to concentrate on club football only to prolong his oft-stated desire to carry on playing until his 40th birthday.
Spain—as Barca—have always struggled at set pieces, and for this reason the commanding Raul Albiol could slot in seamlessly next to Pique. He is a disciplined centre-back to compensate for Pique’s wanderlust, and the height of the 6’3″ Albiol alongside Pique ensures that panic from a high ball into the box is a thing of the past.
As we move into the midfield, we look no further than puppet master extraordinaireXavi Hernandez. In what could be his last tournament at the highest level—he will be 34 at the time—what better way to go out than at the very top?
Xavi‘s prompting will always dictate the pace and direction of the team, but this must be allied to a great midfield support cast.
Xabi Alonso could miss this tournament having recently been dropped from the Confederations Cup squad due to continuous back problems. Expect his position to be taken by Javi Martinez.
Martinez has been the backbone of Bayern Munich’s treble-winnning season. Barcelona must rue not signing him when given the opportunity.
An outstanding athlete and competitor, he is the natural heir to Alonso and will sit alongside the more defensive-minded Sergio Busquets.
More direct than both Alonso and Xavi, Martinez can turn defence into attack at speed, and as he has shown throughout the season at Bayern, once in possession he is hugely difficult to shake off of the ball. His muscular presence is more than a match for opponents wishing to engage in the more physical aspects of the game.
It may not always be pretty but it’s damn effective.
Which brings us to the front three.
David Villa and Fernando Torres would normally be vying for the same position at the tip of a front three, yet neither has enjoyed a particularly good time at club level.
Therefore, the next 12 months are crucial to both. Whether rumouredmoves do eventually materialise for either, we shall find out over the course of the summer.
Del Bosque would therefore do well to scout his other striking options extensively.
Fernando Llorente gives Spain an aerial threat and presence up front that they otherwise lack. Despite only scoring five goals for Athletic Bilbao last season, a summer window move to Juventus will hopefully see him rediscover his early Bilbao form.
Far too often, Spain try to play short, sharp balls into the striker’s feet, but opposing teams are becoming wise to the tactic and press “touch-tight” accordingly.
Llorente‘s inclusion gives Spain a much different and perhaps far more direct and penetrative route to goal.
Alvaro Negredo‘s performances for Sevilla have been noteworthy of late and his continued good form could force Del Bosque to consider him as an alternative to Llorente.
One player who could change the dynamic considerably is Isco.
Given a free role similar to that which he has enjoyed at Malaga, Isco has shown he is capable of great things. Blessed with quick feet, technical ability and a wonderful football brain, Isco‘s inclusion could be a game-changer.
As we have seen time and again at Barcelona, defenders are unsure whether to man-mark a player (Lionel Messi in Barcelona’s case) that floats dangerously across the front line, to close down and run the risk of being picked off by a perfect pass, or to hold back completely and allow the attacker time and space.
Isco has a solitary senior cap at the time of writing, but with a rumoured switch to Manchester City, expect a heady 12 months for the youngster.
2010 World Cup match-winner Andres Iniesta must retain his place purely based on his mesmerising ball control, intelligence and skills his telepathic understanding with Xavi.
That the player also has a knack of scoring important goals is a bonus.
We’ve still yet to consider what sort of impact Valencia’s Roberto Soldado might make on the squad. Like Negredo, he has been turning in performances of such quality that it will make it hard for Del Bosque to ignore him.
Barcelona’s Pedro Rodriguez offers lightning-quick speed and a propensity for hard graft as his resume for inclusion.
Also, where does Cesc Fabregas fit into the equation? And we haven’t touched on the more cultured players such as Juan Mata, David Silva, SantiCazorla and their ilk.
Del Bosque has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal, and tiki-taka has served Spain well for the last few years.
But football is evolving, and Del Bosque must consider replacing the old guard for something more avant-garde if he wants to re-write the record books in 2014.
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Source/Kilde http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1659759-spain-must-evolve-to-triumph-again-at-world-cup-2014
