Monday 05 / May / 2025
WITH a potent mix of hungry youngsters and seasoned veterans who have already triumphed at international tournaments, Spain boast all the ingredients to re-establish themselves as the best team in the world in Russia and reclaim the crown they won in 2010.
Spain were seemingly invincible for four years with three successive tournament wins playing mouth-watering football, but since winning Euro 2012 they have flopped in their last two tournaments under coach Vicente del Bosque.
His successor Julen Lopetegui, a stalwart of the national teams youth programme, has helped to re-ignite their attacking verve and restored the belief they can conquer the world again.
Spain tore their way through their World Cup qualifying group, winning nine out of 10 games while scoring 36 times and outclassing nearest challengers Italy 3-0.
In their last friendly outing, they blew away 2014 World Cup finalists Argentina with a stunning 6-1 win.
Weaknesses are hard to find in Spain's squad, which is packed with players from La Liga heavyweights Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid and outstanding Premier League performers such as Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea and Manchester City playmaker David Silva.
Silva, midfield puppet master Andres Iniesta and captain Sergio Ramos have been in the team since the Euro 2008 triumph while Barcelona pairing Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique have been around since the 2010 World Cup win in South Africa.
Then there are the next generation of players such as Atletico's Koke, Real's Isco and Dani Carvajal, Valencia forward Rodrigo and Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara as well as De Gea who won the under-21 European Championship in 2013 with Lopetegui as coach.
"A lot of the players have been in the national team since they were children and that's important for me because since a young age they've been used to going to international tournaments, playing against the best from every country," Lopetegui said.
"The best team is always the best mix of different generations; we have that and we'll try and make sure it's a good mix."
Spain have been handed a tough draw. European champions Portugal are first up in Group B -- a match which is likely to decide who will finish top. They also face Iran and Morocco.
If Lopetegui's side win the group they are likely to face either Uruguay or Egypt in the last 16, with a possible mouthwatering quarter-final against Argentina, Croatia or France coming next.
Factbox
FIFA ranking: 8 (till June 7)
Previous tournaments
Spain have played in 14 World Cups and qualified for every edition since 1978. They have won it once, beating the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2010 final in South Africa with an extra-time strike from Andres Iniesta.
Before then they had reached the quarterfinals in 1934, 1986, 1994 and 2002 but lost every time. As holders they suffered a shock elimination from the group stage in 2014.
Coach: Julen Lopetegui
Former goalkeeper Lopetegui spent most of his career with Logrones and Rayo Vallecano and had brief stints at Real Madrid and Barcelona. He made one appearance for Spain and was an unused substitute at the 1994 World Cup.
He coached Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid's reserve team before going into Spain's youth team set-up, leading the under-21 team to glory at the 2013 European Championship with a side containing future first teamers Isco, Koke and David de Gea.
After being sacked following a trophy-less 18 months at FC Porto he was named Vicente del Bosque's successor in July 2016. He has rejuvenated the squad with many of his former charges from the under-21 side and helped them to recover their attacking flair, refocusing on a possession-based style of play but making them faster and more dangerous on the counter-attack.
Key players
Isco: Lopetegui knows how to get the best out of the Real Madrid playmaker. He can play across midfield, behind the striker or even as a deep lying centre-forward and ran riot in impressive wins over Italy and Argentina.
Andres Iniesta: The Barcelona veteran has conducted Spain's all-powerful midfield for more than a decade and was the heartbeat of their world dominance between 2008 and 2012. Still as masterful on the ball as ever at 34 years of age, he will be looking for one last hurrah in Russia before quitting international football and leaving Barca.
Sergio Ramos: The centre back and captain has developed a win-at-all-costs mentality and knows exactly how to manage the biggest games. An unforgiving opponent for attackers due to his physical presence and never-say-die attitude, Ramos's experience of four Champions League finals with Real Madrid and five major tournaments will be vital to Spain's hopes.
Form guide
Spain have not lost since their Euro 2016 last-16 defeat to Italy and have won 13 out of 18 games with Lopetegui, drawing five. They comprehensively beat France and Belgium in international friendlies and proved their credentials by ripping apart Argentina 6-1 in their last outing.
How they qualified
Spain breezed their way through qualifying by winning every game aside from a 1-1 draw away to Italy, whom they outclassed 3-0 at home to finish above them and top of their group, scoring 36 goals in 10 games.
Prospects
Spain will face a testing opener against European champions Portugal which is likely to determine whether they finish top of Group B, which also contains Iran and Morocco.
If they win the group they are likely to face either Uruguay or Egypt in the last 16, with a possible quarter-final against Argentina, Croatia or France coming next.
Given the talent in the squad and their form under Lopetegui, a semifinal appearance should be the minimal target, although they will feel confident they can go all the way.
