Internet Desk: World football heavyweights Spain with surely be the team to watch out for in the FIFA U17 World Cup in India. The attractive brand of football of this U17 side has already caught the eyes of all the football enthusiasts of the country.
Although Spain is a nation that has enjoyed success in the world of football, the U-17 teams from the country haven’t really shown up in FIFA World Cup tournaments.
It is telling that this year’s edition of the U-17 World Cup will be Spain’s re-entry to the World Cup, after a third place finish 8 years ago, in 2009. They failed to qualify in 2011,2013 and 2015. So how exactly did they qualify this time around? By winning the European U-17 championship in May!
The recent performances
In May, Spain defeated England (4-1 on penalties) in the final to be crowned winners of the EURO U-17 tournament. It was their third European crown after consecutive victories in 2007 and 2008.
Before the existence of the U-17 tournament, La Furia Roja youth were six-time winners of the U-16 edition but such European dominance could not be transferred onto a global scale.
Spain has failed to get hold of the World Cup trophy three times in the past – ending the FIFA tournament as runners up in 1991, 2003 and 2007. In 2009, they failed to make it to the final and ended up in third place.
The talented youngsters from Spain missed out on qualification for the next three editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup but with a European crown already in the bag, they have the chance to go one step further and win the mega-event later this year.
The Road to India
Spain won the Euro U-17 championship in May to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. Being European champions meant that they received automatic top seeded qualification which will reflect in the official draw set to take place on July 7.
They topped their group in the tournament to set up knockout ties with France, Germany and England in the final. They defeated France 3-1 in the quarter final but the semi final against Germany and final against England were close affairs, with the eventual winners claiming victory on penalty shoot-outs on both occasions.
The coach and the playing style
Spain U-17 team is coached by former Atletico Madrid player Santi Denia. The former central defender has been the coach of Spain youth teams since 2010. He has also managed Atletico Madrid in the past, albeit in a diminished role as caretaker manager.
This Spanish side is already known for their eye-catching tiki-taka football. It would be a sheer delight to watch them play in India.
Although Santi Denia has fielded several formations on the field, the prime focus has been on 4-3-3 and 4-3-2-1 and that is how Spain is expected to line up at the World Cup in October.
The Key Weapon
Abel Ruiz: Spain has a reputation for churning out great talents year after year and the FIFA U-17 World Cup this year will be no different when it comes to revelations. Barcelona’s youth team player Abel Ruiz is one such wonder-kid.
Ruiz is an attacking player who has cemented his place up front in the Barcelona youth team and was one of the special La Masia talents courted by top premier league clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea.
The 17-year old, who racked up a record 16 goals in the recently concluded EURO U-17 competition, is considered as one of the most eye-catching talents in the country and will be the main man to watch out for when Spain kick off their U-17 World Cup journey in October.