How Spain should line up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup
The shock exit from the World Cup in 2014 still haunts Spain, but this time they hope to put in a performance somewhat similar to their 2010 triumph. Spain's boss Julen Lopetegui surely has a great number of world-class players at his disposal, but finding the right balance is a real challenge for him.
During the qualifiers, his side looked robust and ready to battle for the cup.
Here, we take a look at how Spain should lineup in a 4-3-3 formation:
Goalkeeper and Defenders
There's absolutely no doubt about who would be picked to stand between the sticks. David de Gea is unsurprisingly the first-choice keeper because of the consistent match-winning performances shown by him at Old Trafford.
With him guarding the goal, opponents will have to put in their very best in order to find the back of the net. Pepe Reina and Sergio Rico can be decent backup options for the keeper's spot.
The defensive back 4 will be an even combination of players from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos will occupy the central positions. They will provide a lot of strength and physicality to the team. Apart from the ability to play the ball from the back, they will look to use their height and win airballs as well.
Jordi Alba should be picked for the left-back position. His tremendous pace and pinpoint passing make him a complete fullback for a team like Spain. The right-back slot should belong to Dani Carvajal, the man who is arguably one of the best right-backs in the world, and Julen Lopetegui will surely make use of Carvajal's ability to make threatening runs into the opposition half.
Javi Martinez and Cesar Azpilicueta can be good alternatives for central defence. Whereas, Nacho and Sergi Roberto can be perfect utility backups for the manager.