Gavi, Pedri, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino. There’s some serious talent in Spain’s squad. Perhaps even enough to win the World Cup. But they won’t do it in 2022. You sense this tournament has come too soon for a squad in transition, as Spain reconcile their former dominance with their current cycle.
Every two years, less of the side that won a World Cup and two European Championships between 2008 and 2012 is in situ. Of the group that will travel to Qatar, only Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have won a major trophy for La Roja. Xavi is managing Barcelona. Andres Iniesta is 38 and playing his fifth season in Japan. Carles Puyol is shampooing and conditioning football’s finest mane. Spain’s golden generation redefined the parameters of international football, but that generation is all but over.
GROUP E BETTING: Spain 10/11 Germany 11/10 Japan 10/1 Costa Rica 50/1
An exciting new one is emerging, but it will take time to gestate. Barcelona teenagers Gavi and Pedri are the latest future world-beaters off the La Masia production line. Along with 20-year-old teammate Ansu Fati, they are the connective tissue that connects the cynical modern Barcelona to its more hopeful, holistic past. They can fulfil that role for the national side, too. Their well-schooled, exciting style at times evokes the fast-pace brilliance of Xavi and Iniesta. But they remain raw and relatively untested.
They will be bolstered by talent in their prime, of course. While Gavi, Pedri, Fati share just 30 caps between them, they will be joined by talent with greater experience. Setting aside Busquets and Alba, the captain and vice-captain for whom this is likely the last hurrah, there is still considerable quality.
TOURNAMENT ODDS: Spain 9/1 Germany 11/1 Japan 300/1 Costa Rica 1000/1
This World Cup has arrived at the ideal time for Manchester City’s Rodri, a crucial part of Pep Guardiola’s two recent title wins. Marco Asensio and Dani Carvajal have just won the Champions League with Real Madrid. The well of goalkeepers is deep enough that Manchester United’s David De Gea has been left out altogether. The defence boasts the sought-after Villarreal star Pau Torres and Chelsea’s experienced Cesar Azpilicueta.
But even with this admirable core, you still feel the 2022 World Cup has arrived too early for Spain to reestablish their former standing. The encouraging aspect for manager Luis Enrique will be the fact that beyond his Barcelona trio of starlets, and the aforementioned Yeremy and Torres, there is even more young talent to shout about.
Obviously there is nothing concrete about potential, it’s an amorphous and indefinable quality. But the likes of 21-year-old defender Eric Garcia have it in spades. Schooled at Barca via Manchester City, he already has 18 caps to his name. It’s easy to envisage him being a central figure for the next World Cup, as well as the intervening Euro 2024. So too Nico Williams, the 20-year-old winger from Athletic Bilbao. Or Valencia’s versatile defender Hugo Guillamón, who can also operate in midfield.
SPAIN STAGE OF ELIMINATION: Group Stage 5/1, Last 16 5/2, Quarter Final 9/4, Semi Final 5/1, Runner Up 8/1, Winner 8/1
With so much talent years away from their peak, there is every reason to be cheerful if you’re a Spain fan. If your idea of success is lifting the famed golden trophy, then this might not be the tournament for you. This remains a delicately balanced collection of veterans and youngsters yet to truly find their edge. But what this World Cup will provide is indispensable experience for future campaigns. A strong showing here will bolster this group of highly-promising young talents for future tilts. Gavi and Pedri will be just 22 and 23 at the 2026 World Cup. The idea they could have two more tournaments’ experience behind them, and their best years still ahead of them, should frighten their rivals.
Wed 23 Nov (1pm GMT) Germany vs. Japan
Wed 23 Nov (4pm) Spain vs. Costa Rica
Sun 27 Nov (10am) Japan vs. Costa Rica
Sun 27 Nov 7pm) Spain vs. Germany
Thurs 1 Dec (7pm) Japan vs. Spain
Thurs 1 Dec (7pm) Costa Rica vs. Germany
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
