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.
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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.
good article!
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