Euro 2008 Team Preview: Spain

Fernando Torres Spain Euro 2008

FOOTBALL – Euro 2008 Team Preview – SPAIN

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Past Championships

The Spanish national side seems cursed at World Cups and European Championships, more often than not starting amongst the pre-tournament favourites, and then struggling to qualify or capitulating at the quarter-final stage. They seem to prove the point that a squad full of talented players does not necessarily equate to a talented team. It has been over forty years since Spain achieved a major championship (Euro ’64).

1960 – Quarter-final

1964 – Champions

1968 – Quarter-final

1972 – Did not qualify

1976 – Quarter-final

1980 – Round 1

1984 – Runners-Up

1988 – Round 1

1992 – Did not qualify

1996 – Quarter-final

2000 – Quarter-final

2004 – Round 1

Qualification

Spain left it late for qualification out of a potentially tricky Group F especially after successive defeats away to Northern Ireland and Sweden in 2006. It looked like Spain could actually miss out on its first big event since 1992. However, they made up for the lost ground, gaining 22 out of 24 possible points from the next eight games in Group F, finishing top of the group ahead of Sweden.

Coach

A title winning player and coach with Atletico Madrid, Luis Aragones is probably more famous (or infamous) these days for his racial slur in 2004 aimed at Thierry Henry in a conversation with then Arsenal striker Jose Reyes. His coaching career at Atletico started spectacularly with an Intercontinental Cup, Spanish Cup and a League title in his first three seasons. Since that time he coached Atletico in three other spells, leading them to two more Cups. He also won the 1988 Cup with Barcelona and came tantalizingly close to snatching the 1996 League title with Valencia. A tough uncompromising character, Aragones is definitely his own man when it comes to difficult decisions such as omitting the out of form Raul Gonzalez from the Spanish squad.

Key Players

Arsenal playmaker Cesc Fabregas may not be hitting the same heights he did at the start of the Premier League season but the already vastly experienced youngster (still only 21) is still a sure bet to be one of the top midfield performers in Austria and Switzerland. He has scored 26 goals in 198 appearances for Arsenal, including 13 goals this season. Liverpool’s big money signing Fernando Torres has his highest ever goal tally in a season already secured (33) and can now start to plan ahead to finally overcoming the “underachievers” tag that hangs around the Spanish national team’s neck. The Anfield favourite could fit the description of the key player, but it is not clear whether he will be the starter in Aragones’ single striker formation, a sure indication of the firepower Spain possess.



    Related Articles:
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Sweden
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Turkey
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Greece
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Russia
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Switzerland


    • Written by Bet123 · Filed Under Euro 2008, Football 

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