World Cup 2018: Analyzing the Spanish squad and its chance for glory

After the Golden Age of Spanish football (2008-2012), Spain will be looking to win the World Cup for the second time in the nation’s history.

Following the disastrous 2014 World Cup campaign in Brazil, and the failed defence of the European Championship in 2016, manager Vicente Del Bosque stepped aside and former FC Porto and U-21 national team manager Julen Lopetegui was brought in.

It has been more of a gradual evolution rather than a clean sweep of the old guard, as the 51-year-old has chosen to carefully introduce the younger generation to play alongside the old guard.

The current crop team is still some way from matching the pizzazz and panache of Luis Aragones’ 2008 Euros winning side, but are more than capable of also going all the way.

In preparation for Russia 2018, manager Lopetegui has named the 23-man squad with which he intends to win Spain’s second world title.

The release of the squad by the Spanish football federation has already started generating reactions with the understandable dropping of Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata, the major talking point.

🚨 OFICIAL | 46 millones de ilusiones en sus botas, en sus manos... ¡¡ESTOS SON #NUESTROS23!! 🔁 ¡RT PARA APOYARNOS! pic.twitter.com/XBx0e4uOcB

— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) May 21, 2018

Defence

The golden duo of captain Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) and Gerald Pique (FC Barcelona), will be appearing in probably their last FIFA World Cup, and will start in front of De Gea while super-utility men, Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) and Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid), will complete the central quartet.

There is a surprise showing for Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal, who is expected to be deputy to Barcelona’s Jordi Alba. On the right side, Real Sociedad’s rising star Alvaro Odriozola, is preferred to the other upstarts and will compete with Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal.

Given how Spain have traditionally played with the fullbacks providing the width, Carvajal and Alba will be important for what La Furia Roja wish to achieve.

Midfield

For the past 10-15 years, the Spanish midfield has been the envy of world football and this looks to continue at Russia 2018.

Valencia’s Dani Parejo will feel hard done by not being selected, but the chosen ones are more than capable of delivering the goods.

The king of defensive midfielders, Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets is now one of the team’s elder statesmen and will provide defensive cover for the team, with support from the Europa League winning pair of Koke and Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid).

For a long time, Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara has been regarded as the heir to Xavi’s throne and he will have the chance to prove it at Russia 2018, while old warhorses Andres Iniesta (former FC Barcelona), and David Silva (Manchester City), will be looking to make their swansong a memorable one.

Then there are the present and future stars from European champions Real Madrid; Isco, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vasquez whose trickery, guile and skill will be of great value to Lopetegui’s team.

The gorgeous Real Madrid star will be one to watch in Russia

Attack

Alvaro Morata being left out has been the biggest surprise. However, not even his biggest fan can complain about the quality of the strikers chosen by Lopetegui.

Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas and Valencia’s Rodrigo Moreno, have had fantastic seasons for their club sides and are in the team purely on merit. These late bloomers will be looking to make a big splash on their competition debuts for Spain.

The great hulking beast Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), completes the squad and will be looking for redemption after a less than stellar competition debut for his adopted nation at Brazil 2014 (ironically his home country).

Given the quality the team possesses in all positions and the desire of the younger players to create their own legacy, it will not be a far-fetched idea to say Spain is one of the favourites to win this edition of the World Cup.