The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup

[Rossie11]

Spains squad

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Manuel Reina (Liverpool), Víctor Valdés (Barcelona).

Defenders: Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Raúl Albiol (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Álvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Carlos Marchena (Valencia).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Xavi Hernández (Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Jesús Navas (Sevilla), Cesc Fábregas (Arsenal), Javi Martínez (Athletic).

Forwards: David Silva (Valencia), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Barcelona), Pedro Rodríguez (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic).

[Capt Pat]

Where is Raul, is he still playing for Madrid?

That team should really win the world cup. The best goal keeper Casillas, the best central midfielde for the engine room Fabregas,, the best passing midfield duio in the wolrd in Xavi and Iniesta, the best striker duo Torres and Villa. Add in a solid defense and they really should be winners. On the other hand they are Spain.

[paco]

He's still playing for Madrid. Part of the reason Pellegrini wasn't popular at the start was because he didn't start Raul, but the fans seen that this was form the best and warmed to him slowly but surely, meanwhile Raul made the odd cameo but he's expected to leave this Summer. Most likely joining Thierry Henry in the US.

[DownFanatic]

http://www.footballspotter.com/panini-world-cup-usa-1994/

USA 94 full sticker book collection.

Question: Who was the only player based in the Irish League to have been a playing member of a team at a World Cup Finals in the past 24 years?

[A Quinn Martin Production]

http://www.footballspotter.com/panini-world-cup-usa-1994/

USA 94 full sticker book collection.

Question: Who was the only player based in the Irish League to have played at a World Cup Finals in the past 24 years?

Felix Healy played came on as a sub for OWC against Honduras while he was playing for Coleraine, but that was in 1982.

[gallsman]

http://www.footballspotter.com/panini-world-cup-usa-1994/

USA 94 full sticker book collection.

Question: Who was the only player based in the Irish League to have been a playing member of a team at a World Cup Finals in the past 24 years?

Ahaha, I had that. What an absolute waste of money. Treasured my Romario and Bebeto stickers for years. Always had a load of doubles of Bolivian players I didn't care about.

[paco]

Brazil v England 1970 on ESPN classic now. First time really seeing them in a full length match, great to watch! It's like watching a Sunday league team, in a good way, they play so casually (for want of a better word). Commentary wasn't up to much back then though.

[paco]

Only realy tuned into ESPN classic there tonight after hearing about in on here, I'm guessing these sort of games will be on every night in the run up to the WC?

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Spains squad

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Manuel Reina (Liverpool), Víctor Valdés (Barcelona).

Defenders: Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Raúl Albiol (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Álvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Carlos Marchena (Valencia).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Xavi Hernández (Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Jesús Navas (Sevilla), Cesc Fábregas (Arsenal), Javi Martínez (Athletic).

Forwards: David Silva (Valencia), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Barcelona), Pedro Rodríguez (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic).

On paper a very strong squad though if Villa or Torres get injured/supended there's no real household names in the forwards?

[Geoff Tipps]

Spains squad

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Manuel Reina (Liverpool), Víctor Valdés (Barcelona).

Defenders: Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Raúl Albiol (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Álvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Carlos Marchena (Valencia).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Xavi Hernández (Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Jesús Navas (Sevilla), Cesc Fábregas (Arsenal), Javi Martínez (Athletic).

Forwards: David Silva (Valencia), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Barcelona), Pedro Rodríguez (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic).

On paper a very strong squad though if Villa or Torres get injured/supended there's no real household names in the forwards?

David Silva is one of the most coveted players in Europe. Mata has had a great season for Valencia. Pedro plays every other game for Barcelona. Every squad in the WC would love to have any of these guys as back up.

[Rossie11]

David Silva is one of the most coveted players in Europe. Mata has had a great season for Valencia. Pedro plays every other game for Barcelona. Every squad in the WC would love to have any of these guys as back up.

Totally agree. They are cracking players who fit the model of the team well.

How you pick the midfield/strikers line up is almost another thread.
Of the front 6 for me its Xavi Iniesta Torres Villa and 2 more.
That leaves either Alonso or Busquests in the holding role and 1 wide player,
more than likely Pedro or Silva.
Where does that leave Cesc?
Given his injury I think he might be used as sub similar to the last tournament
where he was brilliant coming off the bench.

[Doogie Browser]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UzRsvCsC4c

Always loved seeing this clip, outrageous skill.

[Geoff Tipps]

David Silva is one of the most coveted players in Europe. Mata has had a great season for Valencia. Pedro plays every other game for Barcelona. Every squad in the WC would love to have any of these guys as back up.

Totally agree. They are cracking players who fit the model of the team well.

How you pick the midfield/strikers line up is almost another thread.
Of the front 6 for me its Xavi Iniesta Torres Villa and 2 more.
That leaves either Alonso or Busquests in the holding role and 1 wide player,
more than likely Pedro or Silva.
Where does that leave Cesc?
Given his injury I think he might be used as sub similar to the last tournament
where he was brilliant coming off the bench.

I guess it'll be Alonso in the holding role with Xavi and Iniesta in the middle further advanced.
Then Silva playing on the left or possibly a floating role behind the 2 front lads.
Cesc will be on the bench!
They could also play with a lone striker which would probably be Villa and then 5 in midfield. Either way they've got some amount of talent at their disposal.

[paco]

Pedro and Jesus Navas are two great options to bring on and add width and bags of pace in the latter stages. And even the likes of Llorente in the unlikely event that they want to go route one. So many possibilities. Only real weakness I can see is at left back, where Capdevilla, at 31, has lost a lot of his pace and could be badly exposed against the likes of Robben. All things considered though, it's Spain's to lose.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

You can tell I don't follow Spanish football as closely as I should

Spain 7/2 to win. 

Couple of interesting bets.  Ivory Coast and Ghana both 4/1 to win their groups.  The WC winner to come from South America 9/4