Spain head to South Africa as favourites to claim the crown at this year’s 2010 World Cup – the nations 13th appearance at the tournament, as they hope to secure their first World Champions title. The European Champions boast some of the best players in the world at the moment, and have the double threat of a talented, yet deep squad who can cater to all styles of opposition.
Spain head to South Africa as favourites to claim the crown at this year’s 2010 World Cup.
Over the last few weeks heading into the 2010 World Cup, Spain were dealt some blows when it came to key players getting injured, although in the final countdown to the tournament are slowly overcoming the doubts.
Spain took a road to the finals which sent shockwaves through international football as they won each of their ten games, and booted 28 goals while conceded just five, against some top quality European sides. David Villa claimed an impressive seven goals on the Spaniard’s campaign – the highest in the team, while Iker Casillas and Joan Capdevila both worked up the most time on the pitch.
Spain were drawn in Group H For the 2010 World Cup, where they face Chile, Honduras and Switzerland. Having never finished higher than fourth – which they did in 1950, Spain will most likely face their biggest challenge of the tournament in the round of 16 when they could face Brazil, although more likely Portugal if all goes according to the statistics.
Spain’s Group H Schedule
No. |
Date |
Match |
Venue |
Kick-Off (Local) |
Kick-Off (AEST) |
| 16 | 16.06.10 | Spain V Switzerland | Durban Stadium, Durban | 16.00 | 00.00 (17.06.10) |
| 32 | 21.06.10 | Spain V Honduras | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 20.30 | 04.30 (22.06.10) |
| 47 | 25.06.10 | Chile V Spain | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 20.30 | 04.30 (26.06.10) |
KEY PLAYERS:
ILKER CASILLAS (CAPTAIN)
Born: 20.05.1987
Height: 1.82 metres
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Real Madrid, La Liga
International Debut: Vs Sweden (2000)
Ilker Casillas is a skipper who leads from the back, and through his solid goalkeeping on the backline which saw only five goals cross it on the way to South Africa. As first choice for both club and country, Casillas led Spain to their first European Championship since 1964 when he was just 27. The skipper is known for his fantastic reflexes, and is a reliable man to have in goal when all else fails.
XABI ALONSO
Born: 25.11.1981 in Tolosa, Spain
Height: 1.83 metres
Position: Midfielder
Club: Real Madrid, La Liga
International Debut: Vs Ecuador (April 2003)
Xabi Alonso is one of the most instrumental midfielders in the game at the moment, with the ability to change a game with a pass, and his game reading is second to none. Considered one of the best passers of the ball around the world, he is just one of many fantastic midfielders the Spanish international side have travelling to South Africa.
DAVID VILLA
Born: 03.12.1981 in Tuilla, Spain
Height: 1.75 metres
Position: Striker
Club: Barcelona
International Debut: Vs San Marino (09.02.2005)
David Villa is just one of a bunch of strikers the Spanish national football side can boast claim to, although one of a handful in the squad which has the ability to score when needed. He scored the most in the qualification campaign for the European Champions, with a tally of 36 scored throughout his international career, and as the top goal scorer at Euro 2008.
SPANISH SQUAD
Position |
Name |
| Coach | Vicente DEL BOSQUE |
| Goalkeepers | Iker CASILLAS |
| - | David DE GEA |
| - | Diego LOPEZ |
| - | Pepe REINA |
| - | Victor VALDES |
| Defenders - | Raul ALBIOL |
| - | Alvaro ARBELOA |
| - | Cesar AZPILICUETA |
| - | Joan CAPDEVILA |
| - | Carlos MARCHENA |
| - | Gerard PIQUE |
| - | Carlos PUYOL |
| - | Sergio RAMOS |
| Midfielders | Sergio BUSQUETS |
| - | Santi CAZORLA |
| - | David SILVA |
| - | Cesc FABREGAS |
| - | Andres INIESTA |
| - | Marcos SENNA |
| - | Javier MARTINEZ |
| - | Juan Manuel MATA |
| - | Jesus NAVAS |
| - | Pedro Rodriguez LEDESMA |
| - | Xabi ALONSO |
| - | Xavi HERNANDEZ |
| Forwards | Daniel GUIZA |
| - | Fernando LLORENTE |
| - | Alvaro NEGREDO |
| - | Fernando TORRES |
| - | David VILLA |
