The holders are going for an unprecedented four tournaments in a row. Can they go all the way yet again?
Top Man
Xavi has been the most influential European player of the last decade, though that crown has probably passed to Cristiano Ronaldo in the last 18 months or so. At 34, Xavi has a phenomenal amount of miles on the clock and he has been noticably a little off the pace for Barcelona this year. However, he is still central to Spain’s system and hopes of success.
If Spain had an easy group, which they don’t, Vincente del Bosque may have been able to nurse his most important player through the first three games. However, as it is, Xavi may get worn down early and with that could go Spain’s hopes of an incredible fourth tournament win on the bounce. Spain aren’t exactly short of tasty midfielders, but none can do exactly what Xavi does.
Rising Star
The lowest capped player in the squad, at the time of writing, is Diego Costa but he is hardly a hidden talent. He’s onto his second international team for God’s sake.
Instead we will go with Cesar Azpilicueta. Sure he is very well known to us from his days at Chelsea but we think he is simply a wonderful player, capable of doing a job on either side of the defence and the ideal player for Spain’s system of play. We wonder how long it will be until one of Spain’s big two try to prise him back home.
Did you know?
Known for their attacking prowess, Spain are pretty nifty at the back too. They only conceded three goals in qualifying, fewer than any other team in Europe.
Reasons for Irish fans to support them
Spain are the defining team of this generation. When we are all old and grey, it will be this great Spain team that will be held up as one of the all-time greats. If, and we reckon it is a big if, they pull off another win, they would have to be considered the best ever and who wouldn’t want to support that.
If they were a TV series
Frasier. Just such a well constructed show that stands the test of time. Every character knows their place and performs their role to perfection, bouncing off their fellow performers. The worry is that Diego Costa is the ‘Daphne’s relatives’ of the show, not fitting in and ultimately driving the show to the grave.
Prediction
You’d almost be mad to go against Spain. If they were a race horse you would have to back them on form and distance. But it is now six years since that 2008 breakthrough and the likes of Xavi, Torres, Alonso, Iniesta and Villa may not have enough gas in the tank to go all the way again.
Their group is a toughie and if they slip up and finish second, they are probably facing Brazil in the last 16. If they get to the quarters they could turn it on again but we think that they will come unstuck before the final this time.
Tournament odds with Ladbrokes: 13/2
