Yesterday, we began a series of looking at some of the favourites for the World Cup next year, where we analyse whether or not they deserve to be amongst the most fancied sides.
We started with fellow Spanish speakers Argentina. They are defending champions but also South American champions – so it felt right to follow up with the European champions.
Before the Euros began, not many people had Spain down as winners. Although they were a team with two or three stars, there were a lot of question marks about the personnel in a number of areas on the pitch.
The best example for this is Fabian Ruiz. The midfielder only started 14 games in the 23/24 Ligue 1 season, and only three post February. Many had questioned his place in the squad, never mind starting XI. Yet, he was arguably the player of the tournament.
Fewer players have proven people wrong more than Ruiz in the last 12 months. That includes his own club manager, Luis Enrique. Just 18 months prior to the Euros, the PSG manager had not included Ruiz in the World Cup squad, when manager of Spain himself.
Then, as mentioned above – he did not feature regularly under ‘Lucho’ in the 23/24 season, when the Spaniard took over in Paris. Yet that was followed by an incredible Euros campaign, before becoming an absolutely key part of PSG winning their first ever treble.
One of the biggest myths in football is that international sides should be picked on form. Whilst it can sometimes play a part, particularly with squad fillers, you should pick your best team. Take this example; should an inform Patrick Bamford go to a tournament over an out of form Harry Kane? No, by and large you pick your best team.
A perfect example of this was demonstrated by Spain boss Luis de la Fuente last summer. Alejandro Grimaldo had had the season of his life for Bayer Leverkusen, being a crucial part of their domestic double, and going unbeaten in 52 of 53 games.
Meanwhile, Marc Cucurella had a respectable but up and down season for an inconsistent Chelsea side. There were no questions at who had had the better season, and was coming into the tournament in better form. Yet, it was the Chelsea man who started games instead, because he was a better fit for the side.
So, aside from general quality – being the right fit is also just as important. Both things are more important than a player’s form. We will get onto a country that doesn’t see it the same way later on.
Assuming Rodri gets even close to the player he was pre ACL injury, we can say that Spain have two of the top ten players in the world, with him and Lamine Yamal. To think that the Barcelona man will only turn 19 towards the end of the World Cup is pretty scary.
In the last 12 months, we have seen Yamal develop a lot. Now, imagine what he will be like next summer, with another year of development and exposure. A petrifying thought for everyone other than Spain.
On the other side, you have Nico Williams. The perfect profile to complement Yamal. When you have a player like the latter who will attract two, three, sometimes four players when he has the ball – there will be spaces for others to exploit. In Williams, you have a player who can do that more than most.
We even saw so on the biggest stage last summer in the Euros final. Yamal drifted inside the pitch, before sliding in Williams who had peeled off the back of Walker, before finishing when through on goal. That is a dynamic that is nearly impossible to prepare for.
One thing Spain are lacking is a striker. 33 year old Alvaro Morata may be the captain of the side, but he is not even a guaranteed starter. He was replaced by Mikel Oyarzabal in the final, who scored the winner. The Real Sociedad man started over Morata in the nations league final too.
There could be a lifeline for La Roja in the form of Samu Agehowa. The Porto man scored 19 goals in 30 games (and the equivalent of just over 25 90’s) for Porto in Liga Nos last season. He is a very strong player, capable of holding the ball up and being the foil for Williams and Yamal.
Safe to say the next year is crucial for his development. If he replicates his 24/25 season again, it will become increasingly hard for de la Fuente to leave him out of the side, even if Morata is captain.
Central defence felt like a slight worry for Spain last summer, despite winning the tournament. The duo in the final was Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand, which never felt like it was going to be a long term partnership moving forward.
Fortunately, Spain do have centre back coming through in El Clasico pair Dean Huijsen and Pau Cubarsi. Like with Agehowa, the next year will be big for their development. Particularly with Huijsen – has he got what it takes to succeed at such a big club? He certainly has the tools for it.
We know that de la Fuente does like to count on experience, so perhaps we could see one of them starting next to Laporte or Le Normand, which may be enough.
Going back to the midfield, Pedri has just had his best season for Barcelona since his breakout season back in 20/21. His performances helped the Catalan side to a domestic treble, beating arch rivals Real Madrid to all three competitions.
Back in the 23/24 season, we saw Isco have a renaissance at Real Betis, producing his best performances since his major part in the Real Madrid side that won three Champions League titles in a row. Sadly, not long before the tournament, he suffered an injury that kept him out for several months.
However, the attacking midfielder was able to get back to his best during the 24/25 season, impressing enough to get his first national team call up in six years, as he came on in the Nations League final.
We saw Dani Olmo have a very impressive Euros last summer, before a largely impressive season upon his return to Barcelona. We can assume that Rodri and Pedi are guaranteed to start – that leaves de la Fuente deciding between Ruiz, Isco, and Olmo for the final midfield spot.
That is without even mentioning Fermin Lopez, who won the Euros and Olympic Gold last summer, before scoring some crucial goals for Barcelona last season. There is also club team mate Gavi, as well as Arsenal’s Mikel Merino.
Soon to be joining Merino in North London is Martin Zubimendi, who filled in seamlessly for Rodri during the second half of the Euros final. Another player on the move is Alejandro Baena, whom is set to join Atletico Madrid after scoring seven goals, providing nine assists, and creating 21 big chances for Villarreal in La Liga last season.
That sort of midfield depth is just absurd, to run through it again quickly; Rodri, Zubimendi, Pedri, Ruiz, Lopez, Merino, Olmo, Isco. To think every game, five of those players are not going to start. Can de la Fuente utilise them all to the best of his ability?
In goal, Unai Simon remains the number one, though David Raya is pushing him hard. Solid enough. At right-back, de la Fuente will be hoping Dani Carvajal can get back to his best after his ACL injury. But will he get in the team over Trent Alexander-Arnold?
Aside from Carvajal – Spain have the attack minded Pedro Porro, as well as the more defensively astute Oscar Mingueza. At left-back, as touched on earlier – Cucurella is usually the one who starts, though Grimaldo is strong depth.
Overall verdict: It is hard to look past Spain being the number one favourites, any big injuries aside. They have the style of play, they have the elite midfielders, they have the match winners. They have enough to win the tournament.
