Spain arrive at the World Cup as heavy favorites after winning Euro 2024 and compiling a 31-game unbeaten competitive run, with Alex Grimaldo declaring La Roja capable of emulating the Golden Generation. Buoyed by Lamine Yamal and a deep squad, Spain's Group H opener against Cape Verde is a must-win to set the tone for a genuine tilt at World Cup glory in the United States.
Spain arrive in the United States as clear contenders
Spain go into the World Cup carrying momentum few teams can match: European champions, unbeaten in 31 competitive matches (excluding penalties) and fielding a blend of youthful flair and experienced structure. That status has transformed expectations — where once the question was whether La Roja could recapture 2010 magic, now the debate is whether this group can finish what it started in Germany.
Why Alex Grimaldo’s voice matters
Alex Grimaldo, the Bayer Leverkusen left-back, has emerged as a confident spokesman for the squad. His assertion that Spain are favourites is not bluster; it reflects form, depth and an attacking identity that can trouble any opponent. Grimaldo’s club form — a key role in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga and cup double — underpins his national-team case and gives weight to his belief that Spain can translate continental success to a World Cup triumph.
Group H: a manageable but tricky path
Spain’s Group H opponents — Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay — present varied challenges. Cape Verde arrive as tournament debutants and can be dangerous on transition. Saudi Arabia offer pace and counter-attacking discipline. Uruguay supply grit and a knockout-style mentality. Opening against Cape Verde is a tactical opportunity for Spain to assert control and protect their status as favourites.
Formations, personnel and tactical edges
Luis de la Fuente’s Spain are built around possession, vertical interchanges and quick wide play — Lamine Yamal’s influence is central. The Barcelona teenager’s ability to unsettle defenses gives Spain a distinct advantage down the flanks and in transitions. Grimaldo provides attacking width from full-back, offering set-piece threat and progressive passing while the midfield pivots supply control.
Left-back competition and selection questions
Despite his club production — notable goal and assist returns from left-back — Grimaldo remains behind Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella in the pecking order. That selection puzzle reflects coaching preference and the tactical nuances de la Fuente demands from the left wing-back spot. Grimaldo’s candid acknowledgement that he’s one of only two squad members not playing in LaLiga or the Premier League highlights a selection bias that still favors domestic and English-based stars.
Set-pieces and marginal gains
Grimaldo’s set-piece proficiency is a genuine asset; six free-kick goals across the last three seasons in Europe’s top-five leagues mark him as an elite dead-ball specialist. His cheeky elevation of Lionel Messi as the only superior free-kick taker is both a compliment and an alignment with measurable quality. In tight World Cup knockout matches, those marginal advantages — a free-kick or a clever delivery — can be decisive.
Context: from the Golden Generation to a new era
Spain’s recent history at World Cups has been mixed: a long knockout drought after 2010 and underwhelming exits in 2014, 2018 and 2022 tempered expectations. The current side, however, blends a youthful creative core with experienced winners, suggesting a genuine shift. This tournament is the clearest chance in years for Spain to convert European dominance into global silverware.
What success would mean — and the hurdles ahead
A World Cup win would cement this Spain team among the country’s greats and validate Luis de la Fuente’s long-term vision. Success requires consistency in knockout pressure, tactical adaptability and managing the weight of expectation. Key moments — the opener versus Cape Verde, knockout-game game management and set-piece execution — will define whether this team can complete the rare double of Euros and World Cup within two years.
Bottom line
Spain arrive as a well-rounded, confident favourite, armed with a superb run of form, a generational talent in Lamine Yamal and specialists like Alex Grimaldo who can swing tight games. The path is not without pitfalls, but Spain’s balance of creativity and structure makes them one of the tournament’s clearest contenders.
It’s time for the U.S. men’s soccer team to put up or shut up
The first match in Group H will tell us how serious their title ambitions truly are.
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