It is about him though. He's going to make the exact same mistakes as he did at the WC: start Costa and Casillas. Neither of which are the best options for the national team then or now. Del Bosque however has his sacred cows, and the good of the nat team be damned. That's not somebody who should be in charge of the prospect of the Spanish team, when his primary focus is to keep his class favourites happy. He apparantly lacks the decency to even acknowlegde this, that after the horrible world cup showing due to his selection, he still stays on. I'm very worried of the future, when such a man is then left to decide for himself to continue or not.
well in that I do agree with you my main point though is that in general we do not have good options up front. Madrid fans complain about Benzema, he would be an automatic for us.
Surprised that no one has posted Del Bosque's selections for the upcoming friendlies. Casillas, De Gea, Rico; Juanfran, Piqué, Ramos, Bartra, Azpilicueta, Alba; Busquets, San José, Cazorla, Cesc, Koke, Thiago, Iniesta, Mata, Pedro; Morata, Alcácer, Costa, Isco y Nolito. Those four get selected despite Chelsea playing awful and in a relegation battle and at least three of those players just being awful right now. These are friendlies FFS Del Bosque, give some other deserving players a chance.
Those players (atleast 2 of them, Cesc & Pedro) are pretty much sure of making it to the euros, except if they have major injuries. I think that's how VDB see's it, so i don't think he'll call up other players to replace them when he's already made his final decision about them.
Hoping to see something like ------------Paco ---Nolito----------Pedro -----Iniesta----Thiago -----------Busquets Alba--Bartra--Pique--Juanfran ------------De Gea
Interesting article about the NT and where they stand now one year after their 2014 WC debacle. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34786956
Euro 2016 draw about to take place. Everyone trying to take the trophy away from Spain. Again. Well, everyone except the Netherlands. Pot 1 France Spain Germany England Portugal Belgium Pot 2 Italy Russia Switzerland Austria Croatia Ukraine Pot 3 Czech Republic Sweden Poland Romania Slovakia Hungary Pot 4 Turkey Ireland Iceland Wales Albania Northern Ireland
Spain drawn into Group D. 12 June D3 -v- D4 in Paris 13 June Spain -v- D2 in Toulouse 17 June D2 -v- D4 in Saint-Étienne Spain -v- D3 in Nice 21 June D2 -v- D3 in Lens D4 -v- Spain in Bordeaux
From Pot 4 Spain receives Turkey. 12 June Turkey -v- D4 in Paris 13 June Spain -v- D2 in Toulouse 17 June D2 -v- D4 in Saint-Étienne Spain -v- Turkey in Nice 21 June D2 -v- Turkey in Lens D4 -v- Spain in Bordeaux
Pot 3 drawn, in comes the Czech Republic. 12 June Turkey -v- D4 in Paris 13 June Spain -v- Czech Republic in Toulouse 17 June Czech Republic -v- D4 in Saint-Étienne Spain -v- Turkey in Nice 21 June Czech Republic -v- Turkey in Lens D4 -v- Spain in Bordeaux
And completing the group is...... Croatia. 12 June Turkey -v- Croatia in Paris 13 June Spain -v- Czech Republic in Toulouse 17 June Czech Republic -v- Croatia in Saint-Étienne Spain -v- Turkey in Nice 21 June Czech Republic -v- Turkey in Lens Croatia -v- Spain in Bordeaux
Round of 16 25 June: Winner Group B -v- 3rd Group A / C / D in Paris 25 June: Winner Group D -v- 3rd Group B / E / F in Lens 26 June: Winner Group A -v- 3rd Group C / D / E in Lyon 27 June: Winner Group E -v- Runner-up Group D in Saint-Denis If the winner of Group D wins their Round of 16 match (against a 3rd place team) they would meet the Runners-up of either Group A or Group C in the quarterfinals. So on the surface, it looks to be a decent path to the semifinals for the Group D winner since they would be avoiding a group winner along the way.
Very doable group. Everyone seems to call it a group of death but from my perspective, I like it. No pushovers in there but we should win all of the games.
Yeah, I'm a bit surprised how much the pundits are putting this group as possibly the strongest. Maybe I'm just relieved Spain avoided Italy and not giving enough respect to the opposition drawn.
Belgium is the real loser of the draw. Hard group, and they are in a group where if they come first they have to play against a #2. Which would be from our group. We should become first in this one on paper. Not easily, but none of these teams are actual contenders. If we don't become 1st in this one, then neither are we.
One thing I'm starting to worry about is squad selection. Del Bosque depends on way too many EPL players. Only two players from that league deserve a spot, De Gea and David Silva. The rest are just having an awful season.