Flirtatious Spain Announces Provisional World Cup Roster

May 5th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

Spain coach Luis Aragones has made his list and checked it twice. Now the world knows the 27 men who will be fighting for 23 spots to represent Spain in Germany. As is usually the case with Spain, there are some sexy names that roll off the tongue: Casillas, Puyol, Fabregas, Xavi and Reyes. As is usually the case with Spain, I am a bit smitten by those sexy names. I look at this roster and I think that they might be a team that is being a bit overlooked and that they might make a run in Germany.

But I also look at this team as being no more talented than past Spain squads that were mere World Cup flirts, bowing out long before most people would have expected.

On paper, Spain’s path to the quarterfinals is not an especially difficult one giving them a realistic chance of making the final four. Still, there is that history of disappointment….

Perhaps I am giving too much credit to these players because I am so familiar with them from watching them play in La Liga and the English Premiership. What do you think about this roster? How far do you see Spain advancing?

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Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid), Reina (Liverpool), Canizares (Valencia)

Defenders: Capdevila (Deportivo La Coruna), Puyol (Barcelona), Salgado, Ramos (both Real Madrid), Marchena (Valencia), Del Horno (Chelsea), Lopez, Ibanez (both Atletico Madrid), Juanito (Real Betis), Venta (Villarreal)

Midfielders: Albelda, Baraja (both Valencia), Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso (both Liverpool), Joaquin (Real Betis), Fabregas (Arsenal), Iniesta, Xavi (both Barcelona), Senna (Villarreal).

Forwards: Reyes (Arsenal), Morientes (Liverpool), Villa (Valencia), Torres (Atletico Madrid), Raul (Real Madrid)

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Mont

Where is Vicente? Is he injured? How come he’s not in the squad???
http://www.worldcupblog.com Bob

Vincente has an ankle injury and there is some question as to whether he would recover in time.
http://footiegirl.blogspot.com Jen

My prediction: they’re going to win their group and go out to Brazil in the quarter-finals. But they’ll look damn good doing it.
http://incadenza.typepad.com/soccer_thoughts/ Evan

It’s too bad that Spain can’t play with all five of their great central midfielders. Albelda and Baraja are mainstays, so they’ll be there, as will Fabregas. Iniesta has been lights out lately, but Xavi has more experience, so I’m afraid that Andres will miss this one.

I remember a time when Raul and Morientes up front would have had defenses shaking. Now they’re jokes. Torres has cooled down, Reyes is unpredictable, and Villa has been outstanding, but can he do it at an international level? Unfortunately, seniority wins out, and I can’t see either Raul or Morientes being left out–Reyes will probably be dropped.
Nick

What happened to Diego Tristan?
Jose

Evan is right about the forwards. Spain will not last long. Anyway, the most outrageous absence in that team is Guti (Real Madrid) who is, by far, the best mildfielder in Spain.
Gerardinho

This team has the potential to be one of the best, and the chemistry Raúl and Morientes have when they line up together will be the difference. Some may remember. Those teams who fail to respect it will pay.

If this team really wants to win, Casillas should be given the a back seat in favor of Cañizares.

Midfield would be more productive if it included De La Peña from Espanyol.

I still remember Javier Clemente saying years ago that they were a good enough team to be World Cup champions. They were and they should have been. Then they were robbed against Korea in 2002, or they might have won it then. To borrow from American baseball: this could be de javu all over again.