When Spain lost their 1st match in EURO Qualifiers against a minnow Slovakian side, there were people sitting in the Espressos in Spain thinking where has the era of glamour gone for the Spain side. This was a side – not so long ago - that humbled teams like Italy, England and even Germany, however looking at the form shown by Vincent Del Bosque men in the recent fall-outs suffered by the Spanish outfit, it has now become a writing on the wall that the era of Spanish dominance is well and truly behind us.
#454643888 / gettyimages.com
While Vincent Del Bosque saved his job due to his past laurels after humbling at the World Cup, similar result in EURO Championship might end up his Spanish dream.
However in addition to say that every pride hath a fall, the Spaniards are looking dismantled more than any predecessor of World Cup Champions. While all the people in the footballing world believe that Spain should change the tactics as era of tiki-taka dominance has ended, there are very few people in the Spanish camp that might believe everything was for granted during the epitome of Spanish success, and the dangerous thing is that Vincent Del Bosque fall in the former category.
While before the World Cup it was evident that Xavi has lost his prime touch with the likes of Gerard Pique and Iker Casillas also following suit, Del Bosque seemed to hide his head in rubble like a sparrow when a hunter approaches. However like a sparrow cannot hide its vigor simply by refusing to look away, the bigger the flight was for Spanish side- the fierce is now the fall.
However now with all the frustrated talk behind us, let’s look at 5 things that can save the image for this Spanish side.
Replace Iker Casillas
Being known as Saint Iker since putting on a Spanish shirt way back in 1996, this defeat to Slovakia indicates the porosity that has envisaged its presence over the years in the Spanish goal. Since putting on a Spanish shirt way back in 1996 for the Spanish under-15 side, Iker Casillas has played in 6 tiers before finally getting a call from the National side at the Senior level. However with his recent howler of a displays that were catapulted by the fact that many keepers are there to do what Casillas has done for nearly 15 years now, time has come that Del Bosque should sacrifice the pearl that was right at the top of his throne in 2010 World Cup triumph.
Call David de Gea
By removing Iker from the number 1 spot amid times when Pepe Reina is not getting 1st team football and Victor Valdes is out of action for long as well, the stage is set to give the shirt to a new man. And David De Gea is one of the best contenders of this job. Although he proved relatively naïve over the last couple of seasons for Manchester United, his current form should earn him a berth in the starting 11 of Spain.
Forget Xavi Hernandez
The situation which Spain is suffering from this season is nearly the same Tata Martino’s Barcelona suffered last season. While Tata Martino refused to give way to youngster as Xavi featured in 30 games last season in-spite of being involved in less than 0.1% goals that Barcelona scored last season, Del Bosque has no chance to do the same as Xavi already announced his retirement. However it was evident last season that everytime Spain had a ball in the final third, they seem to Miss Xavi as Cesc Fabregas, his automatic replacement, refused to step up a notch. SO Indeed Xavi is a Legend, Spain should move forward.
Play Paco Alcacer
In addition to scoring 4 and assisting the same so far for his club Valencia this season, Paco has done really well for the Spanish side when given a proper go. Having already scored 2 in as many games before last match, the Spaniard has been able to replicate the form he has shown for his club, on National scale. And by resting Diego Costa and siding him away from a firing squad, it may turn out to be a pressure relief tactic that could turn well for Vincent Del Bosque men.
Amir Bashir follow him on Twitter.
good article!
ReplyDelete