Dignitaries from all over the world will gather in Brazil in early December for the FIFA World Cup draw as the field of teams is divided into groups for next summer’s festivities. As part of its “32 teams in 32 days” series, SPORTSNET.CA will profile each of the nations set to compete at Brazil, leading up to the draw on Dec. 6.
These days Spain is the best team in the world—defending World Cup champions and winners of back-to-back European titles. But for decades La Furia Roja had good reason to be furious: they were Europe’s perpetual underachievers. The country boasted enormous talent and massive success through its club teams, but from 1930-2010 the best result they’d had at the World Cup was a lone fourth-place finish in 1950. A bit of frustration would be understandable. That reputation for being good but never good enough all changed with a 2008 Euro championship won by a ridiculously talented generation of Spanish footballers. A World Cup title (in 2010) and another European championship (in 2012 followed). Much of that group—including Xavi, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta—remains together as Brazil approaches, augmented by a set of younger stars like Isco, Jordi Alba and Thiago Alcantara.
Programming alert: Watch the World Cup draw from Brazil on Dec. 6 live on all four main Sportsnet channels. | TV schedule
How they got here: Spain was presented with a unique challenge in qualifying, drawing the short straw by landing in UEFA’s smallest group, with only five teams, but also being the Pot 1 team drawn against France, the highest-ranked Pot 2 team and arguably the most dangerous. Spain, as ever, didn’t disappoint—going undefeated with just two draws marring their perfect run, and conceding just three goals, the fewest in European qualifying.
Key match: After back-to-back draws, Spain had lost first place and, potentially, all their momentum. Heading to Paris for the second and last match against France this past March, Spain faced the very real possibility of walking away five points out of first and all but guaranteed a tricky trip through the playoff round. The match was hardly the classic it could have been, but Spain prevailed 1-0, Pedro bundling in a cross in the 58th minute. The match spoke volumes about the two sides: Spain had that quality that champions have, to find a way to win even when you’re not playing your best; France showed their mental fragility under pressure, Karim Benzema earning boos from the crowd for a failed game up front, and Paul Pogba earning two yellows in the space of a few minutes late on, to all but doom hopes of a comeback.
Star player: Xavi Hernandez has become a legend for his string-pulling abilities in the midfield for Spain and Barcelona. For both, he’s the hub of an ever-spinning wheel, a formation that is forever flowing, finding space and confounding defenders. It takes a special man to be able to anticipate, guide and drive such a formation. Xavi with his impeccable vision and eye for a pass is that man. And though he may be getting older—and surely 2014 will be the 33 year old’s last World Cup—he’s not losing his touch. In the Champions League round of 16 this past April, Xavi made history by completing 96 of 96 passes, the largest perfect passing rate in Champions League history.
Player on the bubble: Fernando Llorente’s move from Athletic Bilbao to Juventus this past summer may have been intended to boost his visibility and put him firmly in the frame for Brazil, but it hasn’t quite worked out that way. The man they call El Rey Leon (The Lion King) has played in only nine Serie A matches this season, scoring just three times. Though club has quashed rumours that Llorente may be off to Arsenal in January in search of playing time and momentum, it’s clear the striker has to do something to stake his claim for place in one of the most talented rosters headed to Rio.
Team strengths: Strength may be an understatement when referring to Spain’s midfield: it’s mighty. Consider: you’ve got to choose from the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, David Silva, Santi Cazorla, Juan Mata and more. What do you do? Well, if you’re Vincente del Bosque at Euro 2012, you pick as many as you can, and simply forgo fielding any strikers altogether. And why not—that group of midfielders has 92 goals between them, none having potted fewer than nine. With that kind of punch in the middle of the park, who needs strikers?
Team weaknesses: Despite their quality, Spain can be beaten—Brazil managed to outclass them thoroughly in their 3-0 victory in the Confederations Cup final this summer. How did they do it? By refusing to play into Spain’s hands. Spain’s game relies on dominance of the midfield, and their ability to play through the middle. Brazil, using just three defenders, crowded the middle of the park. It slowed the Spanish down, denied them the time and space to work their magic and, combined with ferocious marking, pulled the rug out from Spain’s possession game. It’s a risky tactic, and tough to pull off against a side as talented as the Spanish, but it’s a blueprint to follow for anyone looking to steal Spain’s crown.
World Cup record
- 1930—Did not enter
- 1934—Quarter-finals
- 1938—Withdrew
- 1950—Fourth place
- 1954 and 1958—Did not qualify
- 1962 and 1966—First round
- 1970 and 1974—Did not qualify
- 1978—First round
- 1982—Second round
- 1986—Quarter-finals
- 1990—Second round
- 1994—Quarter-finals
- 1998—First round
- 2002—Quarter-finals
- 2006—Second round
- 2010—Champions
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