Spain look dominant, but it’s too soon for talk of World Cup trophy
Spain can take plenty of positives from their performances against Germany and Argentina. Here are three things we learned from La Roja’s international break.
Spain stretched their unbeaten streak under Julen Lopetegui to 18 matches over the international break. Vicente del Bosque’s successor is yet to taste defeat, and after a 1-1 draw away to world champions Germany and a 6-1 mauling of Argentina at the Wanda Metropolitano, he’ll be confident of extending that record at the World Cup. Here are three things we learned from Spain’s impressive performances over the international break:
Take the results with a pinch of salt
Seven goals in two games and unbeaten across two friendlies against world class opponents, Spain are easily going to win the World Cup! Right?
Although such impressive results and flashy performances can allow the mind of even the most pessimistic of Spanish football fans to run wild, it’s important that any La Roja follower not read too heavily into these friendly wins.
For the decades before their Euro 2008 win, Spanish fans complained about their team playing like world champions in friendlies but not at actual tournaments. Friendlies offer the chance for managers to experiment with tactics and players, especially in the lead-up to a big international tournament such as the World Cup. Although losing, especially in the fashion Argentina did, can be concerning, the context of such losing runs is important. Take the contrast in form between Germany, a nation known for turning up at international tournaments, and England, a nation who can go unbeaten for long stretches until a World Cup comes around and they collapse on the big stage.
The eye test looks good and Lopetegui will no doubt have a better idea of who he’s bringing to Russia after these two matches than he did at the end of qualifying; outside of that, it’s still too early to say just how good this Spanish side are.
Spain don’t need a prolific forward to score goals
Following the departure of del Bosque after Spain’s defeat to Italy in the Euros, there was a big question mark over how La Furia would replace the goals of David Villa, who had retired after the 2014 World Cup. The Spanish managed just five goals in four games in France, with three of them coming from Alvaro Morata.
Fast forward to the present day and striker concerns are less pressing than they were 18 months ago. Spain scored 36 goals throughout the qualifiers and have now scored in 18 consecutive matches following their 6-1 win over Argentina.
Despite both Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata not being as prolific in front of goal as David Villa was for Spain, Lopetegui has found a system that has spread the goalscoring burden across the entire squad. Of the 23 goals Spain scored on their way to qualifying for the European championships two years ago, only one player surpassed five goals. In comparison, four players scored five goals during the previous qualifying campaign.
The coach can take further solace from the fact that the previous two winners of the World Cup were much more impressive defensively than they were prolific up front. Spain scored seven goals in nine games in South Africa and won all their knockout games 1-0 before beating the Netherlands by the same scoreline after extra time.
If we take out Germany’s famous 7-1 over Brazil in the semifinals, Die Mannshaft only scored three more goals (10 in nine games) than Spain had in 2010. Spain have conceded just five goals under Lopetegui with the Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique partnership at center-back looking in formidable form against Argentina on Tuesday night.
The World Cup squad is beginning to take shape
The most important part of these spring friendlies is figuring out who your best squad is. Unlike other managers who will still be pruning over who will start for their respective World Cup opener, Lopetegui seems to have his mind very much set on who his starting XI is.
Nine players that started against Germany started against Argentina and most of the starters from the previous game made a cameo in the second half at the Wanda. It seems that most key areas are locked in and having tested 21 of the 23-man sqaud (the two unused players were goalkeepers), the 51-year-old seems to have a good idea of who will be on the plane this summer.
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The main spot in the squad still up for grabs is up front, where at least four forwards are vying for the starting spot. Both Rodrigo and Iago Aspas made their cases, scoring against Germany and Argentina respectively, while Costa is beginning to rediscover his form with Atleti after spending the first half of the season in limbo.
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Morata would have been the big loser from these friendlies. His form for Chelsea meant he didn’t get his chance to start for Spain and he’ll be frustrated to see his international teammates back up their club form on the international stage. Ther’s still plenty of time for Morata to find his goalscoring touch again and as one of the more experienced strikers of the four fighting for a spot, one could argue all Morata needs to seal a World Cup spot is a good end to the season.
For Lopetegui and Spanish fans, this is a good problem to have, especially considering there’s a perceived lack of Spanish number 9s in the game and it will no doubt be the first place that eyes turn to when the final squad is announced in just a few months.