Spain squad at Euro 2004
Spain
Euro 2004 Home | Squad | Star Player | Key Man
Spain should progress from their group, but then, they usually do. It is at the quarter-final stage that they traditionally come unstuck. Will this year's vintage be any different? There's potential but nothing to be overly optimistic about. In Raul and Valeron they have two of the world's most skillful attackers but it's difficult to fit them into the same team. The midfield isn't exceptional and the defence is decidedly vulnerable. They'll need to whole to be greater than the sum of it's parts and that could happen if the players gel well. Promising young players such as Joaquin, Fernando Torres and Reyes may be given a chance to shine although Saez is likely to stick with the experienced squad members until his hand is forced. The quarter-finals may be their downfall once again.
Squad
Coach: Inaki Saez
| Goalkeepers: 23-Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), 1-Santiago Canizares (Valencia), 13-Daniel Aranzubia (Athletic Bilbao) Defenders: 5-Carles Puyol (Barcelona), 6-Ivan Helguera (Real Madrid), 3-Carlos Marchena (Valencia), 2-Manuel Pablo (Deportivo Coruna), 12-Gabri (Barcelona), 15-Raul Bravo (Real Madrid), 18-Cesar (Deportivo Coruna), 22-Juanito (Betis) Midfielders: 21-Juan Carlos Valeron (Deportivo Coruna), 16-Xabi Alonso (Real Sociedad), 8-Ruben Baraja (Valencia), 14-Vicente (Valencia), 4-David Albelda (Valencia), 19-Joaquin (Real Betis), 20-Xavi (Barcelona) Forwards: 7-Raul (Real Madrid), 11-Albert Luque (Deportivo Coruna), 9-Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid), 10-Fernando Morientes (Monaco), 17-Joseba Etxeberria (Athletic Bilbao) |
| Whenever Real Madrid suffer one of their minor crises, one man always escapes unscathed from the biting media criticism of their highly-paid galacticos. Maybe it's because he's a local boy and cost nothing, but more likely it's because nobody can ever question his absolute dedication and committment in every game he plays. Raul is the golden boy of Spanish football and perhaps the best player the country has ever produced. If he can inspire Spain to win Euro 2004 he'll certainly deserve that tag. His all-round ability is second-to-none. Superb movement, ball-control, passing and finishing make him the complete attacker but give his manager the problem of deciding whether he should lead the line or play slightly deeper. Spain have never quite solved this problem, but if they can fit him in to a natural partnership they'll have a great chance of finally collecting some silverware. |
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| Key Man | Ivan Helguera is equally at home in the centre of midfield or defence but it is in the latter position that he will appear for Spain this summer. A strong, intelligent player with good technique, he'll need to be on top form if his country are to succeed this summer. Spain's current weakness is very much their defence and Helguera will have to take a lot of the responsibility for keeping it tight at the back. Whether or not he manages this will dictate how long Spain maintain their interest in the tournament. History suggests that he'll have his work cut out in a team that traditionally refuses to gel. |
