Spain
Coach: Luis de la Fuente
Starting XI Prediction
Star Players
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Fixtures
Group H
Group H
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 7 |
| 2 |  Cape Verde | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 |  Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 |
| 4 |  Saudi Arabia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 2 |
Full Squad Players List
| # | Player | Pos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||
| 1 | David Raya Arsenal FC | GK | |
| 13 | Joan García FC Barcelona | GK | |
| 23 | Unai SimónXI Athletic Club | GK | |
| Defenders | |||
| 2 | Marc Pubill Atlético De Madrid | DEF | |
| 3 | Álex GrimaldoXI Bayer Leverkusen | DEF | |
| 4 | Eric GarcíaXI FC Barcelona | DEF | |
| 5 | Marcos Llorente Atlético De Madrid | DEF | |
| 12 | Pedro PorroXI Tottenham Hotspur FC | DEF | |
| 14 | Aymeric LaporteXI Athletic Club | DEF | |
| 22 | Pau Cubarsí FC Barcelona | DEF | |
| 24 | Marc Cucurella Chelsea FC | DEF | |
| Midfielders | |||
| 6 | Mikel Merino Arsenal FC | MID | |
| 8 | Fabián Ruiz Paris Saint-Germain | MID | |
| 9 | GaviXI FC Barcelona | MID | |
| 15 | Álex Baena Atlético De Madrid | MID | |
| 16 | RodriXI Manchester City FC | MID | |
| 18 | Martín Zubimendi Arsenal FC | MID | |
| 20 | PedriXI FC Barcelona | MID | |
| Forwards | |||
| 7 | Ferran Torres FC Barcelona | FWD | |
| 10 | Dani Olmo FC Barcelona | FWD | |
| 11 | Yéremy Pino Crystal Palace FC | FWD | |
| 17 | Nico WilliamsXI Athletic Club | FWD | |
| 19 | Lamine YamalXI FC Barcelona | FWD | |
| 21 | Mikel OyarzabalXI Real Sociedad | FWD | |
| 25 | Víctor Muñoz CA Osasuna | FWD | |
| 26 | Borja Iglesias RC Celta Vigo | FWD | |
World Cup History
2010
Titles
16
Appearances
116
WC Goals
40
Wins
Best finish: Champions (2010)
Top scorer: David Villa (9 goals)
Most capped: Sergio Ramos (18 matches)
Record: 40W – 17D – 22L
Spain are the 2010 World Cup champions — their one title, but the culmination of one of football's most complete eras. La Roja's 2010 campaign produced the lowest average goals per game of any champion but was built on defensive solidity and Iniesta's genius. The tiki-taka era from 2008-2012 — Euro, World Cup, Euro — is the greatest sustained achievement in international football history.
Tournament Eras
The Early Disappointments
1934–1966Spain were considered dark horses in multiple early World Cups — qualifying as far back as 1934 (quarter-finals) — but consistently underperformed relative to their club football quality. The 'Spanish tragedy' of early exits became a recurring theme that national pride found embarrassing.
The Quarter-Final Ceiling
1986–2006Spain were perennial quarter-finalists who never quite broke through. In 2002, in a match heavy with controversy, they were eliminated by South Korea on penalties in the quarter-finals after two goals were controversially disallowed. In 2006, the 'golden generation' of Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, and Torres was eliminated in the Round of 16 by France.
The Tiki-Taka Triumph — 2010
2010Spain won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, and Euro 2012 — the first nation to win three successive major international tournaments. The 2010 campaign in South Africa was defined by Iniesta's extra-time winner in the final against Netherlands — Spain's first World Cup title after 80 years of trying. David Villa scored 5 goals as the tournament's joint top scorer.
The Collapse and Rebuild
2014–2022Defending champions Spain were shockingly eliminated in the 2014 group stage — losing 5-1 to the Netherlands who had been their 2010 final opponents. They rebuilt under Luis Enrique with a new generation — Pedri, Gavi, Morata — reaching the 2022 quarter-finals before losing on penalties to Morocco.
Iconic Moments
Iniesta's Extra-Time Winner — 2010 Final
In the 116th minute of a bruising final against Netherlands, Andrés Iniesta controlled a pass from Cesc Fàbregas and calmly side-footed past Stekelenburg. Spain had won their first World Cup. Iniesta lifted his shirt to reveal a tribute to his recently deceased friend. The most understated goal scorer of a generation, in the biggest moment.
The 2002 Quarter-Final — Controversy in South Korea
Spain had two goals disallowed against South Korea in the quarter-final — a Morientes header ruled offside and a Helguera goal chalked off for a foul that many felt was inexistent. They lost on penalties. It remains one of the most disputed refereeing decisions in tournament history.
5-1 Beaten by Netherlands — The Champions Humiliated
The reigning World Champions were demolished 5-1 by Netherlands in Vinícius' brace. Robin van Persie's flying header to equalise — a goal of extraordinary technique — was only the beginning. Spain, humbled, went on to lose to Chile as well and were eliminated at the group stage for the first time since 1950.