World Cup Team Profiles: Group H: Spain

Teams / Ari Last / 15 March 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

European Champions and favourites to become World Champions in 2010, such is the depth of their talent pool that Spain actually have two sides capable of winning the World Cup...

As the wonderful Championship Manager used to say: "The press have run out of superlatives" to throw at this Spanish side. They were magnificent in Euro 2008 and they haven't let up since, which in turn spells bad news for the competition, who will need a superhuman effort if they're to overcome the [5.2] favourites.

Nation: Spain

Also known as...
'La Roja' or 'La Seleccione'

Route to South Africa...
Effortless. Spain won ten out of ten in qualifying, conceding only five goals and scoring 28, the second highest total of any European side. What made their campaign so impressive is that throughout the ten matches, they displayed a varied array of qualities which make them in many respects the perfect team. Strong at the back and devastating going forward, the Spanish also now possess the winning mentality that they have lacked on so many occasions in the past. Twice, in Turkey and Brussels, they fought back from being a goal down to win the tie, and in doing so highlighted a never-say-die spirit which acts as yet another potent weapon in their impressive arsenal.

World Cup Pedigree...
Spain head into South Africa under pressure to perform, not just because they're favourites, but because to-date, their World Cup record does not befit their current standing in world football. They have qualified for twelve previous World Cups, yet their best showing was a fourth place in 1950.

They'll be relying on...
Their highly rated unsung hero, Marcos Senna. The Villarreal man is the glue that holds the side together, and as the fulcrum of Spain's midfield, it is essential he grants Xavi and Andreas Iniesta the license to wreak havoc further forward. History has shown that no amount of attacking flair will succeed unless a suitable balance is achieved, and Senna is the ingredient which gives Spain their perfect equilibrium.

Something you may not have known is...
Spain rose to the top of the FIFA rankings in July 2008, and in doing so became the first nation to top the list without ever having won the World Cup. Their Euro 2008 win coupled with their 35 match unbeaten run between November 2006 and June 2009 were the reasons for their ascendancy. Having won the European Championships and been ranked number one, their next goal is to win the World Cup and this time they seem to have all the necessary ingredients to do so.

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