If you are looking for my tip for the World Cup 2022, then look no further than Group E.
That’s because the 2010 winners, Spain, have been paired with the 2014 winners, Germany, along with Japan and Costa Rica,
Indeed, I think the meeting between Spain and Germany on November 27 should be the best encounter of the entire group stage.
It could also be crucial with the winners of the group likely to avoid the nation ranked second in the world, Belgium, in the last 16 – although the other likely opponents, Croatia, offer no guarantees of a more straightforward route.
Either way, I am expecting World Cup highlights from the Spanish and, while some are resisting the urge to bracket them among the main contenders – they didn’t always convince in qualifying, not least when they made hard work of the likes of Georgia – the men in red are intent on lifting the trophy again and have some very good reasons for setting their objectives so high.
The SBOTOP World Cup betting odds favour a previous winner and so do I, beginning with Spain who have virtually all the tools to be a success. Potentially all coach Luis Enrique needs is a striker who can consistently convert the chances those behind create.
Some media are fascinated by Enrique, described as the Teflon-tough, single-minded coach who loves to defy people’s expectations and lives to thwart his many enemies.
A talented, driven and aggressive 52 year-old who is out of contract with the Spanish FA at the end of the World Cup.
All attempts to renew his deal have, so far, been rebuffed and it is clear this is someone who is not afraid to make difficult decisions. Indeed, any manager that can afford to leave Sergio Ramos and David de Gea out of his squad (the former has been recalled for the World Cup) must be pretty confident.
De Gea played every minute of the 2018 World Cup but has found himself dropping down the pecking order since and, despite consistently being one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, hasn’t played a game for his country since October 2020.
Meanwhile, some fans were stunned that PSG defender Ramos, who last won an international cap against Kosovo in March last year, made the cut.
Enrique has put faith in young guns, such as Pedri and Gavi, and defended them in the face of a barrage of media criticism, building a solid side with a focus very much on the collective rather than the individual, a side that is adventurous on the ball and hard to break down at the back.
In the case of Pedri, his quick feet and ball handling makes him a fun player to watch and his Barcelona boss Xavi has already likened him to his former teammate Andres Iniesta. However, don’t let his baby face fool you as he’s also tenacious and doesn’t shy from doing the dirty work when necessary.
Pedri is still only 19 – he turns 20 during the World Cup – but has made almost 100 appearances for Barcelona.
So, amid the mixed opinions, Spain undoubtedly arrive at the World Cup in far better shape than they started four years ago at Russia 2018.
Coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the tournament after Real Madrid announced he would be taking over as coach after the World Cup, and Fernando Hierro stepped in as interim manager.
Spain were eliminated in the last 16 by the hosts and Enrique took over in July, although he stepped aside in June 2019 because his daughter Xana was suffering from bone cancer.
After she passed away, he later returned to football and coaching the national team has been an important part of recuperating from the most traumatic family grief.
Even after he and his family had mourned the loss of his daughter, the drive to get back to re-apply his talent and volcanic energy became impossible to ignore. It’s a stone-cold fact: he’s an extremely good coach, terrifically clever at his profession, forward-thinking and someone who relentlessly strives to find tiny margins of improvement in order to play an exciting brand of football.
He guided them to the Nations League final last year, where they were narrowly defeated by France.
Now is the time to go one better on the biggest stage of all.
As well as the absence of a consistent goalscorer, the other potential major issue for Spain is the high defensive line that means opponents always create chances against them.
If they hit the heights, they can win the tournament; if they cannot overcome those issues, they could easily be knocked out in the last 16. It will be fascinating to watch.
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