FIFA Confederations Cup: Fitness and fatigue provoke Spanish doubts

You have to go back five years to find a competitive defeat for the Spanish national team in a knockout round of a major competition.

On a cold and rainy night in Bloemfontein, 12 months before they would return to rule the world in South Africa, Vicente del Bosque’s men were soundly beaten 2-0 by the United States in the Confed Cup semi-finals.

Since then, there has been just one defeat in 31 competitive games – by Switzerland in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup finals – and none in their last 25, as World Cup glory was followed up by the retention of their European Championship in Poland and Ukraine last year.

However, whilst manager Vicente del Bosque has highlighted their return to play in the Confederations Cup later this month as ideal preparation for their quest to retain the World Cup back in Brazil in a year’s time – although they have yet to confirm their place there – the sense back in Spain is that it is anything but.

Real Madrid and particularly Barcelona‘s elimination at the Champions League semi-final stage to physically stronger and more energetic German sides, increased concerns that this cycle of phenomenally successful Spanish players may have passed their peak.

The fitness of Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets is a particular concern with both having their minutes towards the end of the season with Barca severely limited to due hamstring and back injuries respectively.

Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso has already been ruled out of the competition due to a groin problem and Del Bosque took the surprising decision to also cut midfielders Benat Extebarria and Javi Garcia out of his original 26-man squad despite Alonso’s injury.

The Real Madrid man’s absence is likely to mean Champions League winner Javi Martinez will get his chance to prove himself in international tournament play for the first time after barely being used by Del Bosque at the 2010 World Cup or at the Euros last year.

And there are also big calls for Del Bosque to make in other areas of the side.

Captain Iker Casillas has been recalled to the side despite not playing a competitive game since January and right-back Alvaro Arbeloa also lost his place in the Real side towards the end of the campaign.

That gives Chelsea‘s Cesar Azpilicueta a good chance to earn his first taste of competitive international action.

Up front, though, is where Del Bosque’s toughest decision may lie, as he must decide whether to stick with Cesc Fabregas in the “false nine” system that he preferred during last year’s Euros or give the role to a more natural striker.

Roberto Soldado, Fernando Torres and David Villa have also been included in the squad and Del Bosque still seems more convinced by the latter two, despite Soldado’s excellent form towards the end of the season.

Villa has struggled to regain his top form since breaking his tibia 18 months ago and Fabregas also had a disappointing season at Barca where he failed to nail down his place in the side.

And whilst Torres appeared slightly more like his old self during Rafael Benitez’s short reign in charge of Chelsea, he is still far from the man who arrived at the Confederations Cup four years ago as one of the world’s deadliest marksman.

All of which leaves “la seleccion” at somewhat of a crossroads just 12 months out from their defence of the World Cup.

Del Bosque seems intent to go with those that have succeeded in the past.

But the decision not to introduce at least some new faces such as Isco and Thiago Alcantara, who were instead part of the under-21 squad sent to the European Championships in Israel, could leave them running on empty.