Spain versus Colombia, international friendly, preview
Spain
The World Champions are scheduled to take on Colombia in a “David versus Goliath” encounter at Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid on Wednesday.
Spain have seen a dip in their form ever since they won the FIFA 2010 World Cup final against Netherlands. La Furia Roja have lost two of their last five matches in the international arena. Not only that, the Spanish national team lost their last friendly encounter against Portugal due to a four goal drubbing by their Iberian neighbours.
Vicente Del Bosque has retained his post as the Spanish national team coach but his team’s international form has been a cause for despair of late.
In their last five encounters, Spain have conceded eleven goals against oppositions such as Argentina, Scotland and Portugal.
As the European giants prepare to take on Colombia their squad includes the usual suspects, who will need to be at the top of their game if they are to best the South American minnows.
Spain have had a tendency to take things for granted in the past, thus the match against Colombia will be a good litmus test of their focus on international football as respect is hard to gain but even harder to maintain.
Talking about his team’s international form Del Bosque stated in his latest interview, “We (Spain) played three friendly matches, and did not win, and the other teams have played well. But I do not think it marks any kind of trend. We are alert now, to ensure that this does not happen again”.
Colombia
Colombian football is at an all time low at the moment, which is not the best way to head into an encounter against the best football team in the world. Colombia’s national team failed to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, thus as a result, the national team has seen a dearth of football in the international arena of late.
Moreover, Colombia’s form is absolutely woeful to say the least. Out of their last five international matches, the South American minnows have only won a single one. In their last friendly encounter, Colombia drew against Peru with a score line of one all. In recent months, Colombia’s brightest result came when they earned a goalless draw against United States on their travels.
The tie against Spain will hopefully motivate the Colombian players but the task that lies ahead of them is daunting and possibly intimidating.
Hernán Darío Gómez, Colombia’s coach has not been in a positive mood before the match as he said in his pre-match notes, “Spain are an well reinforced Barcelona who play every eight days and we have not got together for four months with this team that’s going to play, so these are very big disadvantages against the best team in the world”.
Team news
Colombia have called up their captain, Mario Yepes, for international duty once again as he has been starting for A.C. Milan due to Alessandro Nesta’s injury troubles.
Dario Gomez has also included Giovanni Moreno in his squad for the match. The Colombian striker has been one of the most standout players in the Argentinean football league over the past eight months whilst playing for Racing Club.
Additionally, Colombia’s squad has a larger offensive overtone to it as Gomez has also called up Porto’s in-form target man, Radamel Falcao Garcia.
Expected line-up: Ospina, Perea, Yepes, Pablo Armero, Adrian Ramos, Juan Cuadrado, Zuniga, Dayro Moreno, Anchico, Falcao, Giovanni Moreno
Spain have a full strength squad, bar the injury of Carlos Puyol. Famous names such as Xavi Hernandez, Iniesta, Xavi and Torres make up the squad. But it will be interesting to see whether they actually star the match as club football resumes immediately on the up-coming weekend in the Spanish football league.
Expected line-up: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Joan Capdevila; Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, David Silva, David Villa.
Key players
Colombian captain, Mario Yepes, will be the key to Colombia’s performance on the night. His physical presence at the back along with his experience and calming influence will be crucial to Colombia’s chances against the Spanish national team.
Thus, Yepes will be player to watch out for as far as the Colombian national team is concerned.
On the other side, David Villa has been firing on all cylinders in the Spanish Primera Division for Barcelona. The ex-Valencia goal scoring machine was Spain’s standout player at the FIFA 2010 World Cup as well.
If Villa gets serviced by Xavi Hernandez at the Bernabéu then the match can very well end up with a cricket score line at the final whistle.
Prediction
Spain are favourites to score a huge win in this match regardless of their previous form. The World Champions have got all the ingredients needed to best the Colombian national team. Prediction: 4-0 to Spain.
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