Spanish football team gets royal support
One of the strongest contenders for the World Cup trophy, the reigning European Champions Spain have been given a major boost by the Royal family as they visit the squad, to convey theirs country’s best wishes for the tournament. Prince Felipe of Spain visited the country's World Cup squad and gave the Spanish Royal Football Federation Golden Medal to Andoni Zubizarreta, Raul Gonzalez and Iker Casillas. The Spanish team’s positive outlook have been pivotal to the cause of the national team delivering for the European giants when needed, and once again it has been the aggression team strategy will be once again vital when the team assembles for the tournament in South Africa.
On the first day of the Spanish National team concentration in their camp Prince Felipe of Spain conveyed the Royal family's support to the Spanish squad and was optimistic about the team's chances. Coinciding with the inauguration of the Spanish National team museum, the RFEF (Spanish Royal Football Federation) conferred the Golden Medal to former goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta, Spanish National team captain Iker Casillas and striker Raul Gonzalez, all of whom have won over 100 international caps. The European Champions Spain are being touted as favourites to win the World Cup and all the teams are eyeing the danger of the team that boasts of some of the most exceptional talent in the world.
Spain has been the perennial underachievers at the World level and has been trying to bury the past, and get over the disappointment of under achieving in the most prestigious tournament of them all. The plight of the European Champions at the World Cup can be gauged by their ordinary performance in all events that they have succeeded in featuring in.
The Europeans have been present at all World Cup finals since missing out on West Germany in 1974. Yet in so many attempts they have failed to get past their best of 1950 in Brazil where they finished at the fourth spot.
The team will be flexing their muscles at a couple of friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and South Korea in Austria. They will have a tough start in the tournament as they are placed in a potentially tricky group in South Africa. The Spaniards play their opening match in South Africa against Switzerland on June 16. After tackling their European rivals, they will be pitted against Honduras and Chile in Group H. If they are to repeat their feats at the European level, the Spanish would have to enter the field with confidence and trust in their abilities on the big stage.
They have the talent the flair and that special killer instinct that made them the Champions in Europe in one of the most fearless displays of football in recent years. The question is whether they would be able to replicate that on the field, especially in the pressure cooker setting of a World Cup. The Spaniards are praying for their team, and even the Royal leadership is united in the support of their team, what remains to be seen is if the team can gel together and bring the trophy home.
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