FIFA Ranking (as of May 2008): 4
Schedule:
10/06/2008 v Russia
14/06/2008 v Sweden
18/06/2008 v Greece
Spain are one of the Euro 2008 winner candidates.
They still considered as a European top class with fantastic and talented players on their team.
But over decades, their under-achievements in major tournaments have cut down the optimism of their fans.
This time Spain, who own one of the best domestic leagues in Europe, will try to change their fate and break the mystery of their under-achievements.
La Furia Roja have won one European Championship title in 1964.
At the time they hosted the competition and beat the USSR 2-1 in the final in front of a fanatic 90,000 crowd at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
20 years later Spain were able to reach the final before France beat them 2-0 in Paris.
They reached the quarter-finals in Euro 2000 but were eliminated in the group phase on Euro 2004.
In this year tournament, Spain bring more young and potential players to attain the glory.
Although they have a group of skillful players and play entertaining football, but they still lack of experience in big tournament.
Coach Luis Aragonés will look on Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol and Xavi as the senior players left on the squad.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas is the most capped player in the team with 76 caps.
There are some Spanish players who interesting to watch in this tournament, but the most awaited player of course Liverpool forward Fernando Torres.
El Niño has just completed this season with a 33-goal debut for Liverpool in the Premier League. Spain will expect more from him.
However, we will not see Madrid icon Raúl who left out from the squad by Aragonés despite a marvelous season he had.
Spain's all-time highest goalscorer has been dropped out by Aragonés since 2006.
Even with 18 goals this season for Madrid, he will only watch this year European Championship from his luxury house in Madrid.
Spain are the biggest favorites in Group D, which consists of Russia, Sweden and Greece.
How about their chances in their group? This is what Aragonés said: "Sure, it's going to be easy for us; all we have to do is to beat Sweden who historically have better results than us, down Greece who are the reigning champions and then Russia and all that will be easy."
I hope we will see the best from Spain in this year EEuro, and perhaps the last tournament from Aragonés as well.
Spain Squad
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Reina (Liverpool), Andrés Palop (Sevilla)
Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Raúl Albiol (Valencia), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Fernando Navarro (Real Mallorca), Álvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool), Juanito (Real Betis)
Midfielders: Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Rubén de la Red (Getafe), Marcos Senna (Villarreal)
Forwards: David Villa (Valencia), Daniel Güiza (Real Mallorca), Sergio García (Real Zaragoza), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Related links:
Team
Also see:
Schedule:
10/06/2008 v Russia
14/06/2008 v Sweden
18/06/2008 v Greece
Spain are one of the Euro 2008 winner candidates.
They still considered as a European top class with fantastic and talented players on their team.
But over decades, their under-achievements in major tournaments have cut down the optimism of their fans.
This time Spain, who own one of the best domestic leagues in Europe, will try to change their fate and break the mystery of their under-achievements.
La Furia Roja have won one European Championship title in 1964.
At the time they hosted the competition and beat the USSR 2-1 in the final in front of a fanatic 90,000 crowd at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
20 years later Spain were able to reach the final before France beat them 2-0 in Paris.
They reached the quarter-finals in Euro 2000 but were eliminated in the group phase on Euro 2004.
In this year tournament, Spain bring more young and potential players to attain the glory.
Although they have a group of skillful players and play entertaining football, but they still lack of experience in big tournament.
Coach Luis Aragonés will look on Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol and Xavi as the senior players left on the squad.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas is the most capped player in the team with 76 caps.
There are some Spanish players who interesting to watch in this tournament, but the most awaited player of course Liverpool forward Fernando Torres.
El Niño has just completed this season with a 33-goal debut for Liverpool in the Premier League. Spain will expect more from him.
However, we will not see Madrid icon Raúl who left out from the squad by Aragonés despite a marvelous season he had.
Spain's all-time highest goalscorer has been dropped out by Aragonés since 2006.
Even with 18 goals this season for Madrid, he will only watch this year European Championship from his luxury house in Madrid.
Spain are the biggest favorites in Group D, which consists of Russia, Sweden and Greece.
How about their chances in their group? This is what Aragonés said: "Sure, it's going to be easy for us; all we have to do is to beat Sweden who historically have better results than us, down Greece who are the reigning champions and then Russia and all that will be easy."
I hope we will see the best from Spain in this year EEuro, and perhaps the last tournament from Aragonés as well.
Spain Squad
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Reina (Liverpool), Andrés Palop (Sevilla)
Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Raúl Albiol (Valencia), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Fernando Navarro (Real Mallorca), Álvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool), Juanito (Real Betis)
Midfielders: Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Rubén de la Red (Getafe), Marcos Senna (Villarreal)
Forwards: David Villa (Valencia), Daniel Güiza (Real Mallorca), Sergio García (Real Zaragoza), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
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Related links:
Team
Also see:
