Spain: Favourites for the Football World Cup 2010
They are the reigning champions of the Euro 2008, and thus will be going into the football world cup on a high. A feeling that they can win this battle as well and be crowned not just champions of Europe but of the world as well. And just for this confidence they are being touted to be the favourites to lift the trophy. However rather than boosting their morale, it seems that the Spanish players and manager alike are not too happy with this title. The Spain defender Sergio Ramos admits the tag of World Cup favourites does not sit well with him and his team-mates.
Throughout their footballing legacy, the Spanish team have been known as the dark horses, coming up with a scintillating performance when least expected. Thus, they always have been known to be slightly unpredictable. But during the past decade, Spain’s performance has not been able to live up to the mark. They won the European Championship back in 1964 but after that there came a drought of titles, until the European Championship of 2008, some forty four years later.
Raising the bar for other teams to follow; that is how a pundit would describe their feat against Switzerland and Austria in the Euro 2008. It was a perfect blend of attack and defence. And in the end, it was their sheer effort, hard work and determination that led them to bring the Cup back to Spain after a lapse of forty four years. Their form has continued since then, remaining unbeaten during the World Cup qualifiers and equalizing Brazil’s record of thirty five successes on the trot. And it is for this very reason that bookmakers are listing them as one of the favourites to win the World Cup 2011.
But the team would rather go into the tournament without any expectations. Talking to sports daily AS, Spain’s Fernando Torres made it clear “We would like not to have this role of favourites, but we have it and have to accept it”. He went on to say that every country thinks and believes that their own nation have the edge and will bring the trophy home, but it is not something that they would want to contend with. Having this thought and expectation is like putting added pressure on the players, but then again it is part and parcel of the game and has to be accepted.
Looking at the composition of the current Spanish team as it stands today; it is without a doubt that even a football amateur would know that it is one of the strongest teams. Boasting world class and top-notch players, especially those that have bloomed during the European league games. Noted names that have been enlisted and are worth a mention are of course Torres, Valencia, Villa, Fabregas, Iniesta and Hernandez to name a few. Thus their mere sight on the field would be intimidating for the opposition.
The European championship win in 2008 has propelled the confidence of the ensemble towards the skies, but what now needs to be seen is that going into this world cup with the added load of expectations, would it weigh the Euro champions down. As winning a championship on the back of being a dark horse is a different ball game altogether.
The football World Cup is known world wide as the ultimate prize and Spain have never managed to get their hands on it. The nearest that they have come to fulfilling this dream was back in 1950, when the finished fourth in the tournament. After their Euro win and successful run ever since then, they have managed to bag the top spot in the World Football rankings for the first time ever. The key question now is that will they be able to maintain their unbeaten run throughout this tournament, or with the rising expectations get the better of them.
"The players don't like that they've given us the role of favourites, but we understand the optimism is going to increase with this victory," said Ramos.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/04/spain-world-cup-favourites
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