Let me make an admission from the outset. I am approaching this Eurochampionships with one hope only-that Spain will clinch the title. I hope that I am not tilting at windmills.
As those of you who might have read my latest book on La Roja will realise I’ve watched a lot of Spanish football over the years, and researched into history, to get a sense of how a country has weathered its political storms and deeply-ingrained club rivalries to produce a coherent national squad capable of playing the most beautiful and entertaining football in the world.
Two seasons ago, this achievement came close to unravelling when Mourinho waged psychological warfare on Real Madrid opponents, not least FC Barcelona, threatening to drive an irrevocable wedge between players who had won the World Cup of 2010. In my book I call Mourinho Spanish football’s agent provocateur .
I remember meeting Vicente Del Bosque at the height of it all, while researching La Roja, and how worried he was about the impact Mourinho was having on some of the Real Madrid players, and on Pep Guardiola-a man for whom Del Bosque seemed to have great respect both as a player and a manager.
Del Bosque is a wise man from Salamanca, a good listener, and a good conciliator and he did much to mend bridges, as did Real Madrid’s Casillas and Barca’s Xavi , personal friends who command huge respect within the teams they play for.
I have been asked in recent days whether Spain’s chances in the coming days will be undermined by what is alleged is an enduring grudge affecting certain Real Madrid and Barca players. I have to say I have found no evidence for this. I expect Pique and Ramos to form a formidable partnership as central defenders , if called by Del Bosque to do so, regardless as to whether Pique shows off his girlfriend Shakira as much as Ramos boasts about his skills as a bullfighter.
As for other players,let me make just a few additional points. Casillas is not just a great goalkeeper-he is an inspirational captain; players like Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, and Silva have matured and in my view capable of playing better than they did in South Africa; Torres has come to this tournament as hungry for success as he was in the Euros of 2008 after feeling hard done by Chelsea for most of the season. Del Bosque believes in Torres in a way that no Chelsea manager has , but I expect the Spanish coach to test the player early in the tournament, hoping that he still has it in him to succeed.
I will be surprised if against Italy on Sunday -a potentially crucial game psychologically-Del Bosque does not opt for Torres as the main attacking option with the support of Silva, Iniesta, and Xavi. Much has been said about the absence through injury of La Roja’s record goalscorer Villa . But Llorente and Negredo have height , aggression, as well as flair, that Del Bosque can call upon as other attacking options.
Among the relative newcomers to La Roja , Valencia’s agile defender, Catalan-born Jordi Alba could prove one of the new Euro stars-don’t forget that like that other member of the Spanish squad-Cesc Fabregas – his talent was nurtured in Barca’s youth ranks, and he fits effortlessly into the quick-passing, fluid play we associate with the best of Spanish football.
I hate predictions in football- It a sport quite unlike any other in its capacity to bring forward winners by default or bad luck rather than merit. But if Spain plays at its best, it deserves to win this tournament, and the Gold medal in the Olympics. Such a result should make up for the travesty of Chelsea winning this season’s Champion’s League.
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