CAN SPAIN MAKE HISTORY?

The former champions are all set to defend their title they won in South Africa four years back and it will be one of the most daunting tasks that the team has faced in some time.  One has to be a fool to write them off considered their squad strength and the form they have been. Spain has been in the best of forms for almost a decade now having won three major titles (Euro in 2008, 2012 and world cup in 2010) and has made history by becoming the first ever team to do so. They topped the only 5-team group in the UEFA qualification stages of the world cup in which they had a 1-0 win over France at Paris and they will be certainly among the favourites to win the title.

The No.1 Ranked side of the world is led by the legendary Del Bosque and he has a host of top class footballers to choose from. I feel that Del Bosque will be fielding a majority of experienced players who have had a taste of the world cup experience before. But the new guns like Javi Martinez, Jordi Alba, Azpilicueta and Isco are starting to make a major cause to make it to the starting line-up. Diego costa, who had an amazing season with the La Liga title winners may miss the world cup due to hamstring injury after he chose to play for Spain over the hosts. His injury would be certainly an issue of concern for the Spaniards as they lack a centre forward who can score goals. Torres, Michu, Soldado and Negredo had mediocre seasons with their respective clubs and Del bosque may opt David Villa as their main forward after he had an impressive season along with Diego Costa.

Spain would be certainly adapting to their famous playing style Tiki-Taka and would be all set to frustrate their opponents with their passing play. Tiki-taka style of play consists of short passes and holding on to possession for the majority of the game which has seen the team over the line with 1-0 victories in the past and the coach will be all determined to repeat the same kind of football in the coming world cup.

The 3-0 loss to Brazil in the Confedarations cup final in 2013 at Brazil was a day to forget for the Spaniards. After the match, everyone started to doubt them of their credentials and whether they would be able to play their top class level of football at the world cup. But some feel that the spanking by Brazil was important after such a huge period of Dominance and would allow them to refocus and refine in the summer ahead of the world cup.

Can Spain create history by winning four major tournaments on the trot? Can they become the first European nation to win a world cup on South American Soil? If they succeed in doing so, then this Spanish side will certainly be one of the greatest sides in the history of football.