Group D Preview- Spain

Perennial underachievers, losers they always bottle in on the big stage. In a word Spain. They boast one of the best squads they had in years, perhaps even the best ever. Lots of good young players most of them in good form and no real gaps anywhere. Casillas, Puyol, sergio Ramos, Fabregas, Alonso, Iniesta, Xavi, Villa, Torres. Quality throughout and most of them with a lot of good years ahead of them. Eccentric manager Luis Aragones, known for his racist remarks towards Thierry Henry, has a wealth of talent to work with that can only be compared to the french. He left Raul and Joaquin out of the squad but you can probably guess that they will not be missed. He likes to employ a diamond 4-4-2 formation and certainly he is bound to deliver some success. The writer (blogger) certainly believes so. Otherwise Spanish excitement yet again in 2 years time.

PROS:
1)Best striking partnership in the tournament in Torres and Villa
2)Great cover everywhere in the pitch
3)Solid defence and midfield and the relatively young squad should transform to plenty of energy on the pitch

CONS:
1)They always bottle it. Franco is no longer a political leader
2)Youth might mean inexperience
3)In the quarter finals they match up with the 'group of death'

Goalkeepers

1 Iker Casillas
13 Andrés Palop
23 Pepe Reina

Defenders

2 Raúl Albiol »
3 Fernando Navarro
4 Carlos Marchena
5 Carles Puyol
11 Joan Capdevila
15 Sergio Ramos
18 Álvaro Arbeloa
20 Juanito

Midfielders

6 Andrés Iniesta
8 Xavi Hernández
10 Cesc Fàbregas
12 Santi Cazorla
14 Xabi Alonso
19 Marcos Senna
22 Rubén de la Red

Forwards

7 David Villa
9 Fernando Torres
16 Sergio García
17 Daniel Güiza
21 David Silva