We don’t fear anyone, says Del Bosque

WORLD CUP GROUP B:

Defending a title, carrying expectation, batting away any and many doubts. But you know they’ve everything under control when the biggest worry of the hour surrounds Jordi Alba’s toothache.

“We’ve been here before and we’ll play the same tiki-taka style as in previous tournaments,” shrugs Xavi.

“It has given us so many successes in the past and we’ll live or die by the way we play.”

They are words that gave an insight into the unapologetic confidence around the Spanish, even ahead of an opening game as tough as the Netherlands.

Indeed, the bookies may not have them heading the pack but coach Vicente del Bosque says forcefully: “We are favourites”.

As much as many questions here revolve around the shuddering World Cup final between them and tonight’s opponents in 2010, so much has changed.

Six of the Dutch team from four years ago have exited the stage and this is a younger version perhaps built more for the future rather than the present.

“Yes it was brutal on the part of the Netherlands in 2010 but we can’t criticise them for that type of play,” adds Del Bosque of that infamous meeting.

“But we’ve been together 21 days, six in Brazil and it’s gone smoothly. There’s a great ambiance in the squad and it’s a huge responsibility for us to defend the title. And while it’s highly satisfactory to look to our past and what we’ve done, we need to look to the future as well and we are at our best.”

That’s key for this Spain team despite history being stacked against them. No European side has ever won on the soil of the Americas, no side has defended the title since Brazil in 1962, no manager has won two World Cups since Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938 and no side has won four tournaments on the bounce.

Yet what stands tallest between Spain and the greatest run of results in the sport’s history is themselves because at their best, they are untouchable.

The concern however, is about their drive, their legs and how close they can get to that brilliant best.

That will go a long way towards deciding not just this game but the entire tournament because for every question, there’s an answer when it comes to the place they are now in. The most popular put down is the Confederations Cup defeat to Brazil a year ago — at 3-0 it was the worst competitive defeat for this generation — but when you’ve won what they have, lifting your game for such a competition can be hard and besides, they lost 2-0 to the USA in the Confederations Cup in South Africa and learned lessons and tweaks made helped them to win the last World Cup.

“Well Spain is seen as the best in the world,” says Casillas. “Because of that teams will do their best to beat us. It’s all in our hands and we need to have the ambition and humility that made us champions before. We are sure our team is strong.”

Beyond strong.

Perhaps familiarity has bred contempt when it’s come to this group but consider that Brazil have a reliance still on Hulk and Fred whereas Cesc Fabregas cannot make this Spain teamsheet.

And while there are miles on the clock (they average more than 60 caps per player while the Netherlands average just 28), there isn’t all that much age — Casillas and Xavi are two of only three in this squad that are over 31.

“All the players that we brought with us have their own history,” continues Del Bosque when considering this might be the last tournament for some of their greats. “Some have been many years on the team. But we can’t say that the squad is veteran. I think it is mature at its best. And they are not here for what they have done in the past but what I think they can do at this World Cup.”

“We know each other well,” says Casillas. “But this game obviously has nothing to do with the final four years ago, it’s important in its own right.

“It’s obviously important you start well because a bad result in the first game leaves you tense and puts pressure for the next match. Starting well is part of success.

“For this game, we expect to have a lot of possession, most of it, but we know it’ll be tough. They’ve some young players but Robben together with Van Persie and Sneijder are the most seasoned players and they are the important pillars for the Netherlands.”

But as always, this isn’t about their opponents. The game is Spain’s to dictate. “We’re not afraid of anyone or anything,” concludes Del Bosque, sending a warning to the world.