In-form Alcantaraa real playmaker

Breaking into the centre of Spain’s midfield has lately been about as easy as breaking out of Alcatraz.

But the trio of Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets as platform and Xavi Hernandez as conductor could well be shaken up for the summer’s World Cup.

Because Thiago Alcantara showed in last Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly win over Italy in Madrid he — not Xabi or Xavi — is the most in-form playmaker now available to Vicente Del Bosque.