
Whenever the schedule is drawn from the World Cup finals, I am aware that Spain did not play the final touch. This was instrumental in Italia 90, where the tenderness of the group joined a sudden bad feeling with the press. The wait for the debut, no less than six days, must be unbearable and, I believe, increases the burden of responsibility. I am sure that the result with Switzerland would have been another play that game the second or third day, but history can not be changed, nor the shakes that we continue to produce the memory of the unfortunate release.
Why the hesitation? It's simple. We thought we overcome our ghosts with the victory in Europe, but the only fears which were aborted in that tournament were, precisely, the championship itself, not those of the world. Spain has for the World Cup with a collection of specific traumas, and deflate it or, much less become extinct, if not by passing and the coming rounds, at least the semifinals.
History shows, moreover, that the champions of Europe do not necessarily come away at the World Cup which, if they qualify, have to appear two years later. Greece and Denmark did not make it to the German editions of U.S. 06 and 94, respectively. In 2002, France, who also defended the world title, it was not the first round, the Netherlands Van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard was left in the second round in Italy 90, Germany exceeded yes round in France 98 to fall into quarters (not much) against Croatia.
must go back to 1986 (third place in France) and 1982 (double of Italy) to find correspondence between the fate of a European champion at the FIFA.
The defeat against Switzerland has caused doubt among fans and critics. You may not precisely staff and players, but that we still be used and we tend not to believe it. No such doubts, Spain should have no rival in Portugal. Just our bad head can get in a little trouble with the neighboring country team, though this is the duel matched the second round.
To me the cross reminds me that we suffer with Yugoslavia last twenty years, also in eighth. Or to Belgium World Cup match with Mexico. In both cases, Spain started as a favorite, although aware that the company would not be easy.
Today more than ever, the future of selection depends on the mood of the players strength, because Portugal does not stand comparison with the block of Vicente del Bosque. I do not know how they are the players or what goes through their heads, so I have no prediction for this match. Anything can happen. Of course, beyond the recovery of a certain style of play, I doubt if you turn the machine does not exercise his authority. Is what they have done the rest of the favorites. Neither more nor less.