After dominating world football with their suffocating possession style since 2008, Spain are fast approaching a testing period a year before the World Cup in Brazil.
The core of Iker Casillas Carles Puyol, Xavi and David Villa, that helped make Spain so strong and fearsome, especially in the 2010 World Cup, are now slowly starting to struggle (albeit for various reason) as their careers dwindle down.
Possession play and false nines will live on, but they need to work out who can actively help continue La Rojas quest for a second World Cup in a row, and a fourth major international tournament with the consecutive Euro triumphs.
Villa – who led Spain’s attack in 2010 – hasn’t fully recaptured his form since breaking his leg in 2012 and has found it hard to work his way back into Vicente del Bosque’s favoured false nine system as Spain the world they could function without a natural striker in their line-up.
Injuries have also hampered Puyol’s progress over the last two years and Sergio Ramos has made the centre-back slot his very own. That has lead to Alvaro Arbeloa getting a lot of stick for not being as adventurous at right back for not being as attacking-minded as Jordi Alba is on the left flank.
But Spain (and Real Madrid) have able reinforcements in Daniel Carvajal, who had a fantastic season with Bayer Leverkusen and looks set to usurp Arbeloa once the season kick-offs in late August.
Real Madrid skipper Casillas struggled to hold down get back into the side after his tiff with Jose Mourinho, but he is still the better of his opposite number from Barcelona, Victor Valdes.
That leaves Xavi, who for so long has been the link between midfield and attack for club and country, but has suffered a slow decline in form since the start of 2011.
He still is a key member of the squad having represented Spain over 60 times since 2008, and by the looks of it would be one of two players (out of the four) who could start the first game in Brazil next year.
Spain have plethora of stars in midfield with the likes of Bayern Munich’s defensive enforcer Javi Martinez, Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla, and the supremely talented Juan Mata of Chelsea, who has often been overlooked by del Bosque.
Mikel Arteta, who has consistently done well at Arsenal, may find it hard to make the cut at 31. Also waiting in the wings are the Barca duo of Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets.
Then there is the youth of Thiago from Barcelona and Isco from Malaga, who may be too young to step in for Brazil, but a bench spot wouldn’t be a bad start for both of them.
The only area for concern for Spain is upfront; so much so that Fabregas has had to fill in on numerous occasions. Fernando Torres, Roberto Soldado and Alvaro Negredo – traditional strikers by nature – don’t seem to fit into the false nine role.
As nice as it would be to see Spain continue its reign, by dominating possession and making quick incisive passes, they do need a plan ‘B’.
A few fresh faces in the starting line-up may provide the spark as they look to be the first European team to win the World Cup in South America.
With the core they have of Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Ramos, they will be right in contention and should start as the deserved team to beat come 2014.
A few sides will be quietly confident to send them home though (Germany, Belgium, Brazil and Argentina). But with some key decisions to be made on some starting positions, they will need to change players to suit their dynamics to work more smoothly.
Time is on their side, and if they manage to use it well and Spain will be the team to beat. They should use the FIFA Confederations Cup to test themselves, but if they don’t, then their quest could be over before it really should be.
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