The Spanish are perennial underacheivers, there's is no other way around it. Despite what Mark White will tell you (that they always acheive there world ranking), when you look at there World Cup results, Spain don't perform on the big occasion.
In the 1950 World Cup Spain raced all the way through to the semi-finals before being eliminated, skyrocketing themselves as one of the games elite. Since then the World Cup has been nothing to them except a re-inforcement of hwo they never deliver on the "grandest stage of all". Since 1950, Spain have yet to make another semi-final, and have only made 3 quarter finals ('86,'94 and '02) but have found that there are roadworks on this metaphorical path through to the final.
Players like Raul, Hierro, and Luis Enrique were supposed to lead the Spanish to the promised land, to knock off the powerhouses of Brazil, Italy,etc , however the Spanish have always came up short one way or another, whether it be a penalty shootout defeat to Belguim or Korea or just coming up short against the Italians, Spain always seem to find a way to fail at this stage.
However, in 2008, Spain fianlly acheived at international level, defeating Germany in the final of "Euro 2008" to finally put there stamp on the world of football. Since that win, the whole of Spain has been awaiting this tournament, wishing time away in a bid to finally land the coveted "World cup trophy (creative bunch at fifa)" and finally get the monkey off there back.
With the squad they currently possess, Villa, Torress, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas to name but a few, the pool of talent is endless, and an easy case could be made for why they are favourites. There are questions of this team though, is Toress fit ? Can there defence hold it together?
With the domestic league now arguably holding the 2 best players in the world (Messi and Ronaldo) and the best team (Barcelona) and the best mananger (Jose Mourinho), it seems as if there's never been a better time to be spanish. Now it just requires the team to hold there nerve and not reciprocate precceding teams.
-Adam
Twitter @AFKAA. The blog @WorldCupWillie1
I do see what you mean about their underachievements in the past. It's obvious: if your teams always about good enough to get the quarters, you need luck to go all the way, and Spain have never had that luck. That's why I'm not backing this time around.
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