The most famous generation of Spanish national football, which between 2008 and 2012 won three major titles - one world, two European, ended on its knees at the World Cup in Brazil 2014, when it was eliminated in the group stage.
It was the end of an era, because after years of unreal success, a fall inevitably came - at the European Championships in France in 2016 and WC in Russia in 2018, the "red fury" fell on the first knockout stage. If the defeat in Paris against the up-and-coming Italy was somewhat acceptable, then Moscow's penalty-elimination against Russia showed that Spanish national football needs a good airing.
It is still, however, a selection filled with classy footballers, among whom are also some members of the golden generation from the beginning of the last decade: Barca's Sergio Busquets and Giordi Alba, above all... Sergio Ramos would have been there too, if not for the injury separated from the field.
After revitalizing the Spanish national team, with a three-year "delay", coach Luis Enrique retired.
The winner of Barca's last Champions League (2015) was supposed to lead the "fury" to a major competition three years ago, but he had to withdraw due to major family problems and the illness of his then eight-year-old daughter Xana, which is to the great sadness of the whole Spanish and world passed away in 2019.
Enrique still found the strength to come back, and the Spaniards played solid football in the qualifiers, they easily won the 1st place in the group in which, with eight wins, they drew with the Swedes and Norwegians. They achieved the most impressive triumph, however, in the League of Nations in November 2020, when they beat the Germans 6:0.
They started the new qualifying campaign for the WC in Qatar, however, sloppily, with a home draw with Greece and a difficult victory in Georgia.
City's Laporte and Barca's Eric Garcia should carry the defense, with the inevitable Alba, Liverpool's Alcantara, Atletico's Koke, Rodri (City) and Napoli's Ruiz the most important players in the midfield, while the attack is, as usual, full of class and speed - Leipzig's Dani Olmo and City's Ferran Torres should be good support for Alvaro Morata.
The Spaniards are the favorites in the group with Sweden, Poland and Slovakia, especially if it is known that all three matches will be played at the "La Cartuha" stadium in Seville.
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