2010 FIFA World Cup - Spain
2010 FIFA World Cup - Spain National Team
2010 FIFA World Cup Spain National Team:
Goalkeepers:
1 Iker CASILLAS, 12 Victor VALDES and 23 Pepe REINA
Defenders:
2 Raul ALBIOL, 3 Gerard PIQUE, 4 Carlos MARCHENA, 5 Carles PUYOL, 11 Joan CAPDEVILA,
15 SERGIO RAMOS and 17 Alvaro ARBELOA
Midfielders:
6 Andres INIESTA, 8 XAVI, 10 Cesc FABREGAS, 14 XABI ALONSO, 16 Sergio BUSQUETS,
20 Javier MARTINEZ and 21 DAVID SILVA
Forwards:
7 David VILLA, 9 Fernando TORRES, 13 Juan Manuel MATA, 18 PEDRO, 19 Fernando LLORENTE and
22 Jesus NAVAS
Coach:
Vicente DEL BOSQUE
Top Players Xavi (ESP), Andres Iniesta (ESP) and David Villa (ESP).
2010 FIFA World Cup Schedule & Scores
The star players
The team's success has been based on quality and balance throughout the side. In captain Iker Casillas Spain have one of the world's finest keepers, a man who can be relied upon to bring his superhuman reflexes to the rescue when most needed. Midfield string-puller Xavi Hernandez's inch-perfect passing and vision is vital to the Spaniards' fluid style, while at the sharp end of the attack there can be few if any better finishers than David Villa and Fernando 'El Niño' Torres.
The coach
Vicente del Bosque took over where Luis Aragones left off after the EURO 2008 triumph, keeping the same
footballing philosophy and core of players which dazzled the continent that summer. The experienced supremo
has also hit the heights at club level with Real Madrid, winning two UEFA Champions Leagues (2000, 2002),
two La Ligas (2001, 2003), a Spanish Super Cup (2001) a UEFA European Super Cup (2002) and the Toyota
Intercontinental Cup (2002).
Del Bosque continued Aragones' faith in the one-touch style that has traditionally characterised Spain's
play and which relies upon midfielders of the highest quality. As a recult, the Spaniards have won every
game but one since the former Los Blancos boss took charge, the exception being a semi-final reverse against
USA at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009.
Previous FIFA World Cups
Spain have taken part in the finals of 12 FIFA World Cups and have not missed a single edition since
failing to reach Germany 1974.
La Roja's best performance at the global showpiece was a fourth-placed finish at Brazil 1950.
At senior international level, Spain have two major titles to their name: the 1964 and 2008 European Championships.
Records
Spain recorded ten wins from ten South Africa 2010 qualifiers.
La Selección were the European Zone's second-highest scorers, firing 28 goals to end the campaign
just six strikes short of the Fabio Capello's England.
Spain - 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 - Spain
The Favorites The tag of European champions is no guarantee of success, as La Roja know only too
well after fluffing their lines at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009. The Spanish were absolutely flawless
in reaching South Africa 2010, however, winning all ten of their qualifying matches. And given the fact
that they have never lost to any of their three pool rivals, Vicente del Bosque’s men have every reason to
be confident about their hopes of progressing.