THE FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP:TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS

GROUP B
SPAIN La Roja or in full la furia Roja.Spain are the reigning world and European champions and will want to win the only tournament that they have participated in and have not won since 2008,The FIFA onfederations cup.Cesc Fabregas recently stated that they were going to treat the tournament like a world cup.In all honesty La Roja have a better overrall squad than the class of 2008,2010 and 2012,as they can now call on players who are on the top of their game(Mata,Carzola,Javi Marthinez) but from the starting 11,everyone with the exception of Jordi Alba and Iniesta dropped in form or lost his place with his club side (Casillas)(Villa and Arbeloa to an extent).La Roja are coached by Vicente Del bosque.The former Real madrid coach has won everything at the highest level except the confederations cup.He has at his disposal probably not only the best team in the world,but maybe the best team in history.His team are arguably the most compact squad at the tournament many of the squad members have been together since 2008.They play a 4-1-2-2-1 formation,with every player in each position already known.But since Euro 2012,there has been a problem.The number 1 striker position.Torres was the number 1 striker with Villa and Iniesta sligtly more towards the wing but just behind.But the loss of form of both Villa and Torres,especially Torres has given Del Bosque a headache.Villa can easily be replaced with David Silva.But for some reasons Del Bosque has little faith in any spanish striker.This was evident at the European Championships were he prefered starting Fabregas as the number 9.But that,he may not be able to do in Brazil because of the injury to Xabi Alonso.The Real madrid man is part of the spanish engine room,with Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets.He delivers the aeriel through balls,which is his speciality unlike the through balls on the ground,he can do this but not up to the standards of his aerial balls.This problem is solved by the architect,Xavi Hernandez.He can give the though balls on the ground,but aerially not that well.Xavi and Alonso complement each other perfectly.But Alonso is out,so is this a problem? Yes.But the effect can be reduced,Spain have a player who,when he was younger was said to have the qualities of both Xavi and Alonso,i'm not talking about Benat,i'm talking about Francesc Fabregas.The Barcelona man showed this at Arsenal,but since moving back to catalunya,he has not been quite the same player.He,in my opinion should replace Alonso,Del Bosque should forget using him as a false 9.He will understand Xavi better because they are at Barcelona together.Another option would be to play a 4-3-3,with a Barcelona midfield of Busquests,Xavi and Iniesta,then Fabregas,Villa and Silva.This would be easy to play because 5 of the 6 players mentioned play for Barcelona and i can make a strong bet that this has been done before with Barceola.Del Bosque can also use Javi marthinez as a direct replacement for Alonso,but that would make spain more defensive and cancel out that aerial passes.But realistically,Spain won't change their style.With that solved who will lead the line for La Roja.Torres,Villa,Soldado,Pedro?.Robeto Soldado has the best record of all the strikers with 30 goals in 46 matches and he did he's chances no harm by scoring against Ireland last night.But i personally feel David Villa should lead the line.He has a better goal ratio than Fernando Torres and has more International experience than Soldado.The goal keeping spot is also a slight issue,because of the lack of match practice Iker casillas,but really,i cannot imagine him on the bench for this tournament,no offence to Pepe Reina and Victor Valdez,Iker Casillas is the best Keeper in the world and symbol of spanish football.A few outtings in friendlies would get him back in shape.Another issue may be that of the right back position.Alvaro Arbeloa as the usual person,but he had a below par season which made Madrid exercise a buy-back clause and bring back Dani Carjaval,which may see him loose his spot with Madrid,but before that he may lose his spot too in the national team to caesar Azpilicueta.The Chelsea man had a fantastic season and will definetly be able to replace him.But just like Soldado,he has little experience in competitive international tournaments.I personally feel Javi Marthinez was the best holding midfielder in European football this past season,i feel Del Bosque should use himself and Busquets in turns,such as the way Real madrid use Benzema and Higuain.Although i feel Marthinez is a better player,due to the fact that he heads the ball better,he is also better playing in defence,and even the pass accuracy which will make Del Bosque prefer Busquets over Marthinez,he has improved on that wonderfully well this season,although not to Busquets' standard.Del Bosque did not call up Michu who had a fantastic season with swansea and to me its very sad to see him not make the squad.Alvaro Negredo who scored 31 goals in 42 matches will be wondering what he has to do to be a regular for Spain, last season he scored 14 goals in 36 matches and he made the squad for Euros.Javi Garcia who was terrible in the EPL,made the initial squad.This i find perplexing.That said the,players to watch for Spain,first of all their captain,Iker Casillas.As i stated earlier, saint Iker was left in the cold by Jose Mourinho last season and the spanish will be looking up to him for inspiration.Xavi,Iniesta amd Sergio Ramos have all called him the symbol of spanish football in recent weeks.In the World cup in South Africa and the European championships,spain conceded a total of 3 goals.This is how good the man is,although critcis will say he has a strong defense ahead of him,but i only need to remind such critics of the 2 saves he made from Arjen Robben.Another man that viewers should watch closely is Cesc Fabregas.If indeed he replaces Alonso,he will be under scrutiny for everything he does,the Spanish will hope he does well in that position and also hope he does not give-in to pressure if things don't go well.The next inspirational player in the Spanish team after Casillas would be Andres Iniesta.Going into this tournament he is the most consistent of all the forward players for Spain and also managed to finish the season with the most assists in La liga.He scored the world cup winning goal in South Africa and was also the best player at the European championship.Don't bet against him repeating the act in Brazil .Players like Juan Mata and Santi Carzola are fringe players for Spain,such is the frightening quality of La Roja,they would want to do well when given the opportunity,and expect them to do so.






In all honesty Spain are the overwelming favourites for the tournament,they are motivated to hold The world cup,the European Championship and the Confederations cup at the same time,something only France have done and are also motivated to join France and Argentina as the only teams to win all FIFA international tournaments (World cup,Confederations cup and the Olympics).Spain have been criticised for not scoring much at competitions.They are also criticised for not having a plan B,if things are not going there way.But any spandard will tell you he doesn't care how the win the tournament as long as they do it.It would take a brave man to bet against La Roja winning this tournament,my advice:DON'T



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