Spain’s impressive Euro 2012 final demolition job on Italy in Kiev on Sunday helped them create football history in major tournaments and has already got lovers of the game wondering if they can now overcome the challenge of being victorious on South American soil (World Cup 2014 outright).
The Spanish sides imperious performance in the 4-0 win against the Azzurri ensured they became the first nation to win three major tournaments in a row.
And, as the door to one tournament closes, then another one opens as all eyes are now firmly fixed on the 2012 World Cup finals in Brazil in two years’ time and the fresh challenge on the table not only for Spain, but all of Europe’s other top footballing nations.
In the history of World Cup tournaments since 1930 no team from Europe has managed to win the trophy on the American continent in seven attempts.
However, we feel there will be no better time for that hoodoo to come to an end in 2014 with Spain (4/1 World Cup 2014 Outright) leading the charge to put the record straight.
The Spanish have dragged European football on in leaps and bounds in the 18-years since the last World Cup finals across the Atlantic when Brazil defeated Italy in the final in the United States.
Spain’s tactics have become a huge talking point as their tiki-taka style of play, which involves slow build-up passages of play involving intricate passing, similar to the great Brazil sides of the past, which ultimately leads to fast attacking forays as their players exploit any gaps in the opposition’s defence.
The style had attracted some critics, who described it as boring throughout the championship in Poland and Ukraine, but the Spanish answered them with the perfect response when tearing Italy to shreds at times on Sunday evening.
Looking at the current Spain squad and this is not a collection of players that are approaching their sell-by date.
Current coach Vicente Del Bosque should be able to call upon the vast majority of the squad which triumphed in Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup with only possible doubts surrounding the likes of Carles Puyol, Carlos Marchena and Joan Capdevilla.
Xavi, at the age of 34, will no doubt still be able to command a place in the side, but the majority of the current midfield and forward line will be in what is regarded as a footballer’s prime years.
Throw into the mix the likes of strike duo Fernando Llorente and Roberto Soldado, who did not kick a ball at Euro 2012, and Spain have quality options to step in for any ageing players such as David Villa, who will only be 32.
It would be wrong to pin Europe’s hopes on just Spain as Germany (8/1 Outright) and Italy (20/1) were also technically strong and impressed throughout Euro 2012.
Therefore the signs are good that Europe’s flourishing nations can finally go and test South American big boys such as the hosts Brazil (7/2), Argentina (11/2) and Uruguay (20/1) – arguably the best side in the continent at the time of writing having lifted the Copa America last summer following a fourth-placed World Cup finish in 2010 – in their own back yard.
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Surprisingly Germany have not beaten Italy in their last seven competitive meetings but Die Mannschaft are in prime position to end that disappointing run in their Euro 2012 semi-final showdown on Thursday (Germany 10/11, draw 12/5, Italy 7/2 – Match Betting).
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