The Spanish National Team: Euro2008

With Euro2008 edging ever closer it gives me an opportunity to preview the team who's football I admire most in Europe. I will be the first to say my support is not one based on national allegiance or such, but more a case of admiring football. Spain represent the vintage type of football which I love the most, but which is sadly disappearing as football shifts into a sport who's core philosophy shifts to focus on even greater athleticism and less about utilisation of game intelligence and the brain.

Luis Aragones- I like the style of football he tries to promote in his team, football is becoming more and more mechanical nowadays. Especially at international level, but Spain and probably Argentina are the only teams who play the most vintage style of football about. So Aragones has to be applauded for that. He does have flexible ideas and changes formations if need be. Though he does have a tendency to choose some very average or bad footballers (Pernia) and can be very stubborn. If Spain are losing and need to turn a match around, I don't think he has that capacity to make bold changes. He has however done one thing well and that is get rid of the old guard and there dressing room cartel (Raul, Canizares, Salgado) these three were a big problem in the World Cup. Finally he was the man to end this Raul dictatorship which ensued in the NT, fuelled by the pro-Madridista press. Whether or not Raul should be included now is debatable, but I think he gives too many problems with his presence alone. If he is in the squad, he has ot play and it has to be as a forward and yadda yadda.

Likely lineup- Aragones tends to play 2 slightly different line ups depending on the opposition. When Spain play harder opponents he likes to play an extra midifelder (Cesc) in a 4-2-3-1 so that Spain can control midfield and there is less pressure and emphasis on Xavi from the opposition. Against countries who may not be as powerful he tends to play an extra striker (Torres). I think the lineups are almost set bar injuires and maybe form. The only player which may be changed is Marchena, but that might be unlikely.

4-2-3-1

----------------Casillas-------------------
Ramos------Puyol-----Marchena--Capdevila
------------Albelda-----Xavi--------------
-----Iniesta--------Cesc---------Silva----
------------------Villa--------------------

4-4-2

----------------Casillas-------------------
Ramos------Puyol-----Marchena--Capdevila
------------Albelda-----Xavi--------------
-----Iniesta---------------------Silva----
------------Villa------Torres-------------

Main players

Xavi- Xavi is the heartbeat of the team and Aragones places a huge amount of trust in him, he's played him even he's not been at his most consistent. But I think Aragones likes continuity and thinks that obviously sustaining certain players is importnat for that, especially for the role Xavi plays. A lot of the success will lie in how good Xavi performs, however there is only a certain degree he can perform too. A lot of the times teams pressure Xavi a lot or mark him, which limits his impact or ability to control a game. I think thats why Cesc helps as an extra midfielder in the middle as he's able to take the focus off Xavi a bit.

Villa- Some might argue he is probably Spains most important player but I think Aragones has more dependency on Xavi. Anyway Villa is vital to the success of Spain as he is the main goalscorer and the player who can decide the fate of Spain. He fits the style perfectly as he's very intelligent and participates in the build up a lot on top of his goals.

Casillas- The high defence that Spain love to use means there is always the threat of opponents exposing them on he break or such, but Casillas in terms of reflexes is the best goalkeeper in the world. He stands up well in one on ones and has amazing reactions, pulling off the miracle saves. He's also the captain and to his credit a very good one, he has wodnerufl diplomacy and helps the dressing room ambience which obviously prevents any dressing room splits. He doesn't engage in the Raul debate or cry wat As and Marca would prefer.

Strengths of the team

Ball Retention- No team in World football can retain the ball like Spain, the abundance of midfielders who are specialists in distributing the ball is very good (Cesc, Xavi, Xabi, Iniesta) They play with majestic control of the ball ad at times are unplayable, opposition can spend minutes without getting a touch of the ball.

Depth- There is a good level of quality in the squad, maybe less so in defence. But in midfield and attack there are loads of options. Considering the starting lineups the bench of Spain can have players like: Torres, Cesc, Tamudo, Xabi Alonso, Reina, Joaquin and then you have players who may be possible candidates like Morientes, Vicente, Guiza, etc.

Weaknesses of the team

The defence- Spanish teams love to play a high line as we have seen even with Rafa, the problem is Aragones does not have the nouse to create a sustained idea of defending and using the high line. Benitez spent hours fine tuning our back line so they work in sync, but Spain don't do that and the majority of there goals come from a defener being caught out of line with the rest of the defence on a counter attack. The solution is hard to achieve, without getting a coach to work on this and with a sustained period of time, something almost non-existant in relation to International football.

Lack of power and stamina- The team is obviously brilliant as an attacking force, but the midfielers bar Albleda are all elegant players, not really powerful players. But you can never get that balanced without hindering the football, hybrid footballers are non-existant. Secondly the team struggled as WC went on with the physical demands, they tired a lot against France and were caught out as a result. They need Pako

Lack of grinding- Spain has to always play well to win, if a match is very intense and what not, then they do not have that level of jaminess or ablity to sustain an opposition which the Italians have been perfect at, wonderufl football is brilliant but there is always an odd game you won't play well, the problem with Spain is they have problems to win when playing bad.

Chances

Quarter Finals- They will most likely play well but lose to a good counter attacking team.

Liverpool players in the Spanish NT

Xabi Alonso- He was a mainstay for a long time but Aragones realised the balance of the team was not right and that they were exposed physically, so he relinquished Xabi for Albelda. I think Xabi will probably play a bit, but not a main starter.

Fernando Torres- Torres' talents are appreciated by Aragones, but his style is not the ideal for the Spanish style. He's more of a French style striek than a Spanish one, he is quite direct and dynamic in his style whereas the Spanish Nt likes everything to be slow and measured. But he does give them a good option especially for holding the ball and giving defenders a headache. I think of our players he will get the most minutes.

Pepe Reina- Its a shame he doesn't play more but he is in the shadow of Casillas who has been the main goalie for a lot of years now and also the captain. He'll get the least action, but if called upon then he's reliable. Also if they have a PK, they can sub Iker