Vicente Del Bosque is a man not only with a sensitive and sensible political mind but with an enduring memory.
He knows that a huge majority of Spaniards while not seeing football as a solution to their crisis, do look to him and the national team-with its cooperative of Catalans, Basques, and other Spaniards- as an inspiring contrast to the intolerance, division, and leadership and institutional failures that otherwise mark their existence.
He knows the long and difficult road that lead to Spain’s finally becoming widely respected European (2008 & 2012) and Word Champions (2010) and how that achievement was only made possible by a new generation of hugely talented players prepared to coalesce in a defined philosophy of solidarity and practice of play that proved an example of human conduct and creative excellence.
But football is also about luck, energy, and tactics, including the ability to beef up one’s defence and goal-scoring capability when evident failures on one’s side and surprise threat by the opponents are identified. It was clear from the first minute of the game last night that La Roja was half the team it normally is, and urgently needed fixing, but had temporary lost the ability to react positively.
Last night within minutes of Spain’s crashing to defeat in the final of the Confed Cup, Del Bosque reminded us that any team can win or lose a game of football, Brazil won because it played better-on the night- , and suggested we should not easily forget that long road already trodden by Spanish football, nor the great moments of joy and unprecedented success experienced along it.
Del Bosque will know that there is some hard thinking and tough choices to be made in the months ahead with some players like Villa, Arbeloa, Casillas, and Torres among those on which the jury is out, as La Roja prepares for the real World Cup, with the national teams of countries like Germany, and now Brazil and Italy growing in strength and self-confidence.
But the challenge is a manageable one. Spain still has one of the most formidable pools of talent of any footballing nation in the world, an existing squad of huge experience and youthful average age, and players like Xavi and Iniesta than can play better when rested and younger players like Isco and some of his comrades in the Under-21 squad who were not in the Confed tournament but are ready for promotion.
There is no sell by date for a creative, flowing football, based on possession and quick passing- poetry in motion. But if it is to retain its well earned respect, La Roja needs to be tactically flexible and have players fit and energised enough to respond as the under 21’s showed last month in Israel. There can be no room for special status players who divide the dressing room and break the unity of the team. I trust that when we get to the World Cup Del Bosque will know who to pick and when, and prove more successful than last night when La Roja returns to the Maracana.
