World Cup 2014 Team Spotlight – Spain
The defending World Cup and Euro 2008 and 2012 champions Spain find themselves in a familiar spot as the 2014 World Cup approaches.
Spain
(FIFA Rank #1)
Odds to Win World Cup: 13/2
Odds to in Group B: -135
As the team to beat there is little question that the Spaniards should go a long way in the tournament – another victory on football’s biggest stage certainly isn’t out of the question for the most well-rounded, most experienced squad in the show.
The recent past has some looking at Spain as a possible upset candidate this year however. Some saw their Euro 2012 Championship run as somewhat underwhelming and their 3-0 beat down at the hands of Brazil in last year’s Confederation Cup has raised a few question marks for this team as we get closer to the kickoff of World Cup 2014.
Diego Costa F (Atletico Madrid); Iniesta M (Barcelona); Sergio Busquets DM (Barcelona); Xabi Alonso M (Real Madrid), Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Fernando Torres and David Villa provide Spain with an unenviable lineup but most of those players are over 30 years of age and have played a ton of football over the last 8 or so years.
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Simply put Spain’s age could be a factor – COULD!
Up front there are few teams that match up with the Spaniards; Spain’s midfield will be a strength as per usual. Names like Diego Costa who spurned host country Brazil in favor of suiting up for Spain and Alvaro Negredo provide the youth while David Villa and Fernando Torres provide the rock solid experience on the biggest stages for this team.
Defense is the one area of Spain’s game that has some question marks and even those are few and far between – Spain allowed just four goals in their last 14 competitive matches.
Piqué and Ramos are more than serviceable defenders and goaltending doesn’t seem to be an issue either as we near the World Cup.
Betting Prediction: World Cup 2014 should be the swan-song for many of the aging Spanish superstars – they have made up one of the most intimidating squads on the planet the last decade! Spain has the luxury of coming into the tournament two or three deep in every position, with a tremendous mix of youth and experience.
Spain is the clear-cut favorite to win Group B – no reason to look anywhere else. After the Group stage, a date with Croatia, Mexico or Cameroon looms.
With a perceived improvement up front and typically stout defending Spain should make it all the way to the Final once again where experience will take over and earn the Spanish a fourth straight Major Football title globally.
Brazil will give Spain a run, but the pressures of performing at home may just be too much for the host squad.
World Cup Prediction
Take Spain to win it all again this year as they go undefeated at World Cup 2014.
