Team profile: Spain

1.2204459-3398339061 — Spain's forward Diego Costa reacts during a Group B football match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 13, 2014. Image Credit: AFP

Appearances: 15
Best result: Champions, 2010
Manager: Julen Lopetegui
Star player: Diego Costa

Spain have disappointed in recent major tournaments, by their standards at least. A pair of back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012 sandwiched the side’s greatest achievement: winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

There was a major upset when the defending champions failed to advance from the group stages in Brazil in 2014, and they were dumped out of Euro 2016 in the last 16. 2016 in the round of 16.

Vicente Del Bosque stepped down after that flop in France, and Lopetegui took up the reins amid doubts he was the right man for the job.

However, he brought in youth to complement the experience and soon had them firing again as they qualified for an 11th consecutive World Cup with ease from a group that included notable tournament absentees Italy.

Manchester United’s David de Gea has made the No. 1 spot his own and it is hard to see Kepa Arrizabalaga or Pepe Reina getting game time in Russia unless De Gea suffers injury or suspension.

It will be two from Barcelona and two from Real Madrid as Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique will be making their final World Cup bows in a solid Spanish defence along with Jordi Alba and Dani Carvajal.

Andres Iniesta, who recently announced his departure from Barcelona, will also be featuring in his final World Cup but his excellent passing skills and ball control will be key for the Spaniards in midfield with Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alcantara for company. Isco and David Silva will also be on hand to provide the attacking threats behind the front line.

Whom to start up front is Lopetegui’s biggest headache. Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa is the front-runner but Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas, Valencia’s Rodrigo Real’s Lucas Vazquez, Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata, Napoli’s Jose Callejon and Atletico’s Vitolo are all options. Who misses the cut will be fairly hard done by out of that pool of talent.