Saturday 14 June 2014

Desastre Español II (Spanish Disaster II)

Another poor start for Spain at a World Cup but it will be the manner of this defeat that shocks the world. Not many would have predicted such an emphatic win for a Dutch side that has lost it’s star midfielder in Kevin Strootman to injury early this year. Louis van Gaal tactically outmanoeuvred Vincente del Bosque as the Spaniard decided to remain loyal to the vast majority of players who have served him so well in the past.

Players like Fernando Torres and David Villa remain in the squad when others such as Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo are watching from home despite superior form being shown by the latter pair. Even a player like Xavi should count himself fortunate to remain in the starting lineup with so many fantastic, more youthful midfielders available for the Spanish squad.

It would surprise me to see del Bosque make any drastic changes to the team as he is a very consistent manager with his team selections though I expect Cesc Fabregas to start ahead of Diego Costa in their next match against the Chileans who would have watched the score-line in this match with a mixture of delight and trepidation.


This Spanish team are a group of players who usually react to adversity in a positive manner though this group could prove a step too far for this ageing group. If this is to be the stage where the current world champions are to depart the competition, could this be the end of del Bosque, and if so, could it be the start of a new era, most likely under the tutelage of current Bayern supremo Pep Guardiola?

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