/ 8 June 2009

Spain looking to shine on global stage

European champions Spain are viewing the upcoming Confederations Cup as a chance to impress in the global shop window. This is what Jorge Carretero, spokesperson for the Spanish football federation, told German Press Agency dpa.

”It will be an important tournament for us,” said Carretero, ”because it will be our chance to shine on the global stage.” Carretero added that ”Europe saw last summer [during Euro 2008] just how good this Spanish team is. Now we want the world to see this.”

This will be Spain’s first participation in the Confederations Cup, and will be a useful warm-up for them before the 2010 World Cup finals, for which they have virtually qualified already.

Spain have been drawn into Group A, along with hosts South Africa, New Zealand and Iraq — a group that should not present too many problems for Vicente del Bosque’s in-form team. La Seleccion, as it is known, has established a new record by going 31 games unbeaten, since November 2006. Del Bosque has made a spectacular start since taking over from Euro 2008 hero Luis Aragones straight after that triumph over Germany in Vienna.

Under Del Bosque, Spain have won their first six games in European qualifying Group Five, and are therefore now well placed to cruise towards the 2010 World Cup finals. Del Bosque has been wise enough to keep together the team that so impressively triumphed at Euro 2008. In fact, just about the only members of the 2008 squad who will not make the Confederations Cup squad are injury victims Ruben de la Red of Real Madrid and Villarreal’s Santi Cazorla.

In goal in South Africa will be Iker Casillas of Real Madrid, widely regarded as Planet Football’s current number one after he managed to push Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon into the shade at Euro 2008. The reserve keepers will be Jose Reina of Liverpool and Diego Lopez of Villarreal, who has managed to push out Sevilla veteran Andres Palop. Del Bosque will stick by the defence of Sergio Ramos (Real), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Carles Puyol (Barcelona) and Joan Capdevila (Villarreal) that did so well in Austria and Switzerland last summer.

The reserves will probably be Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool), Raul Albiol (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Juanito (Betis) and Fernando Navarro (Sevilla). The Spanish defence is strong in the air and in the tackle, but fullbacks Ramos and Capdevila often get caught out going forward, allowing the opposition to exploit the space behind them.

The Spanish midfield, of course, is the envy of world football, with Marcos Senna (Villarreal) and Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) providing the muscle and shooting from distance, and Barcelona pair Xavi and Andres Iniesta the creativity and imagination. In addition, Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Albert Riera (Liverpool,) Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) and Diego Capel (Sevilla) will provide valuable back-up. Up front, of course, will be the terrible twosome that did so well at Euro 2008: Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and David Villa of Valencia. Both hit men have enjoyed a bright season, and will be raring to go in South Africa.

In contrast, David Silva, Villa’s Valencia teammate, has suffered an injury plagued year and has lost his usual confidence and exuberance. However, he will be in Del Bosque’s squad, and might just recover in time to be another important weapon in the Spanish armoury.

Because of such an embarrassment of riches, Spain must be considered one of the favourites for the Confederations Cup — and indeed for the 2010 World Cup as well. — dpa