Spain has won just three World Cup matches since being crowned champions in South Africa in 2010. And none of these triumphs were against the best teams in the world, but against teams that are not in FIFA’s top 25. arrangement. A devastating fact that puts the focus on the seams of a highly aesthetic national team attached to the ball but unable to hone its competitive genes or change register when the game calls for it. Between Brazil, Russia and now Qatar, La Roja only defeated Australia (0-3), Iran (0-1) and Costa Rica (7-0). No trace of the records of that golden generation that ruled the world between 2008 and 2012 with two consecutive European Championships and one World Cup.
In Brazil, Russia and Qatar, Spain has played a total of 11 matches. Well, they’ve only won three, while drawing five – here’s including the two penalty shootout losses to Russia and Morocco – and losing three (Chile, Netherlands and Japan). The national team has theoretically failed to beat the much weaker rivals, always staying true to their style of passing and touching without the verticality or bite needed to break down other people’s walls.
If the magnifying glass is placed exclusively on Luis Enrique’s Spain, who will play the League of Nations ‘Final Four’ in June, the Asturian coach presents the following balance in the World Cups and Euro Cups: three victories (Slovakia, Croatia and Costa Rica), six draws (Sweden, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Morocco) and one loss (Japan). He will decide next week whether to stay in office.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
