FIFA World Cup 2018: Spain

World Cup 2018 will be something of a transition point for the Spanish national team moving forward. The core of the side that won the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 are still present but this may be the last time that we see them on the biggest stage of all. Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique are still regulars in the first team but time is wearing down and their legs cannot go on forever.

Having struggled and dropped out in the group stage in Brazil four years ago there is a definite sense that this year they are genuine challengers to go all the way to the final. The appointment of former U-21 coach Julen Lopetegui appears to have been a masterstroke from the Spanish federation, having struggled to adapt to club football Lopetegui is ideally placed to create the bridge between the experienced older guard in the squad and the younger players that had performed so well for Lopetegui at U-21 level.

There are still doubts over the quality of strikers that Spain have at their disposal but those same doubts existed in 2008, 2010 and 2012 where the Spaniards swept all before them.

Spain Squad

Coach  Julen Lopetegui

A former international goalkeeper Lopetegui is very much a coaching product of the Spanish Federation. He started his coaching journey at national youth levels and gradually worked his way up to the post of U-21 coach. This culminated in 2013 when the U-21 side won the European Championship playing scintillating football with the likes of Thiago and Alvaro Morata in the side.

This performance won Lopetegui the chance to coach FC Porto of Portugal but unfortunately for the Spaniard his spell in Porto coincided with a period of dominance for their rivals Benfica and he was relieved from his post after just 18 months.

His period in charge of Spain has seen a slight structural shift in the tactical setup of the team moving away from the 4-3-3 Barcelona model in to a more clearly defined 4-2-3-1 with Isco of Real Madrid performing key attacking duties in the middle of the three behind the striker.

Goalkeepers

David De Gea, Kepa, Pepe Reina

Defenders

Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Nacho, Nacho Monreal, Alvaro Odriozola, Cesar Azpilicueta

Midfielders

Sergio Busquets, Koke, Saul, Thiago, Isco, Marco Asensio, Andres Iniesta, David Silva, Lucas Vazquez

Forwards

Diego Costa, Iago Aspas, Rodrigo

Tactics

With the change from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 there have been slight structural changes from the Spain side that we remember for that successful period from 2008 to 2012. Isco plays in a more advanced central position to link in with the striker and with the likes of Iniesta and Silva who play inside in the half spaces.

This change in structure has a second purpose in recognising that Sergio Busquets is not as mobile as he once was at the base of the midfield, his role will be to organise the midfield from a static central area with Koke likely to be given the second midfield slot where his ability to play in the defensive and attacking phase will offer a balance to the midfield.

The structure in this match between Israel and Spain was interesting as the Spanish committed eight players in to the final third as they pressed their opponents back. The keys to the structure lie in the two fullbacks, who maintain their wide positions to stretch the width of the fiend, and Busquets who holds a deeper central role and stretches the depth of the attacking structure.

When playing in this manner there are always passing angles and options over.