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New look Spain get shot at revenge

By on March 30, 2015

Spain, at the peak of their prowess around 2010, were never quite perfect; they lost, even on the biggest stage. In their first match at World Cup 2010, which they would of course go on to win, they lost to Switzerland of all nations. Only 1-0 — Switzerland put an a resolute defensive performance — but nonetheless, surprising for a team that had beaten everybody over for the past few years.

Vicente Del Bosque’s men went onto win that tournament in thrilling fashion, with Andres Iniesta grabbing an extra-time winner in the one-hundred-and-seventeenth minute against the Netherlands in the final. Even in 2010, nothing came easy.

Coincidentally, Spain drew the Netherlands again in their first match in Group B at World Cup 2014. History indicated it would be a tight match — in their past eight meetings the score had been decided by at most one goal — as did their recent form, with both teams coming into the tournament as favorites. It was very conceivable for Spain to lose, and the bookmakers even tipped the Dutch to win; indeed, if the Netherlands had won by a reasonable scoreline of 2-1 or 1-0, few would’ve had the guts to slash their hopes. Spain lost their first match in South Africa, too.

But in the end, never had anyone seen a performance like the comprehensive meltdown Spain suffered that day. The Netherlands shipped five past Iker Casillas, who added to his own woes by gifting Robin Van Persie a goal. Such was the nature of the defeat, that all the wind was knocked out of Spain’s sails. It was the heavyest World Cup defeat suffered by a reigning champions, and Spain would go on to be the first reigning champions to be knocked out in the group stages after their loss to Chile.

Truly, it was a dramatic end of an era. Spain’s rapid fall from grace, however, didn’t reflect the more gradual, eroding causes. In 2008, a young Fernando Torres spearheaded an exciting squad including Iker Casillas, Xavi, Iniesta and Carles Puyol to a European Championship title. The team matured at World Cup 2010, and refined their tiki-taka style; they were less reliant on Torres’ pace and more on the quick passing football. After Barcelona’s record-breaking 2008/2009 season, Spain’s generational talent reached its full maturity. Afterwards, players like Xavi and Puyol both hit more sobering age marks before Euro 2012 with Puyol and Joan Capdevilla both retiring.

Yet Spain had reached such a level of football that it was hard to see their looming challenges. They breezed to the Euro 2012 title, but had a tougher time qualifying for World Cup 2014. Spain had trouble letting go of the storied legends of the past generation such as Xavi. Casillas wasn’t even Real Madrid’s starting goalkeeper leading into the tournament, but started against the Netherlands — it goes without saying his rustiness cost La Roja last summer. Their slow regressing reached a catalyst.

Many blamed Del Bosque, and fault does lay with him, but to his credit he didn’t retire or quit. Moreover, he’s cast aside the past in this new Euro cycle. He has recognized some of his mistakes — albeit requiring a major catalyst first — and went back to the drawing board with little sympathy for anybody’s history.

Marc Bartra, Juan Bernat, Jordi Alba, and Cesar Azpilcuata have all been introduced to Spain’s backline, alongside Sergio Ramos. Cesc Fabregas is slotting alongside Sergio Busquets in the midfield, and Del Bosque has a host of bright, young options up front: Munir El Haddadi, Jese, Alvaro Morata and Paco Alcacer to name a few. Isco has also been on striking form, and Diego Costa is set to star as well in the 2016 Euros in France.

It’s not perfect — they lost to Slovakia in their first Euro qualifying match, and Casillas continues to be chosen ahead of De Gea — but it is nonetheless admirable that Del Bosque is aiming to build a new team before any of the past greats retire. Few of these new players have stood out from the crowd yet, though Isco is impressing and scoring a beautiful goal for Spain last weekend. Just like the process of waning is slow, building a new team will take time, as well.

Tomorrow, Spain and the Netherlands will meet again, offering a good reference point for how far Spain have evolved. Indeed, it would be a sweet revenge if Spain were to inflict more suffering onto Gus Hiddink’s men, who have been underwhelming since the departure of coach Louis Van Gaal after the World Cup.

Nearly any result will be a major improvement for Spain, but a win could prove a tell-tale sign that the changes are heading in the right direction. The revolution is beginning.

Photo credit: Football.ua

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.