Spain emerge as contenders

Spain arrived in the Far East riddled with self-doubt, fearful of history and aware of the nation’s lack of confidence in anything to do with World Cup finals.

Fourth is Spain’s best-ever effort in the finals, so the country’s concern about failure is understandable. And it was no use telling the Spanish they have the best clubs and best players in the world, they’ve heard it all before.

But for the first time in 52 years they have managed a 100% clean sweep of their group matches and are suddenly everyone’s dark horses to lift the crown.

The Republic of Ireland stand in their way. Mick McCarthy’s down-to-earth hard workers against the sublime skills of the Spanish. No contest really.

But don’t tell that to Spanish coach Jose Comacho, the unsmiling, growling boss on the bench who looks like he’s had a touch too much paella since he gave up a hugely successful spell in Real Madrid’s defence between 1973 and 1989, when they won nine titles.

Comacho, a tough defender, took no prisoners. He wants the same from his players here but using their flair and tricks. And he’s getting it.

They have cruised through their group after coming to their senses at half-time in the opener with Paraguay - when they were behind - and have not looked back.

Comacho hauled off Luis Enrique and Diego Tristan at the break showing he was not bothered by reputations.

He said: ‘‘I don’t like taking people off but something had to be done to sort things out.’’ And there wasn’t a flicker of complaint.

Now his team look odds-on for the final, with France and Argentina gone. Comacho has a view on that too. He said: ‘‘This is not a World Cup of surprises, it is a World Cup of equals.

‘‘The game is getting tighter all over the world, if France and Argentina had not been knocked out they could have both gone on to win the trophy, it’s as close as that.’’

But Ireland must fear now the growing confidence of Spain, who arrived here with the weight of the world on their shoulders, massive expectation and a history of abject failure in this tournament.

However, now Luis Enrique is full of belief. ‘‘I have a good, good feeling about this now. This could be our turn for the cup,’’ he said.

If they get past the fighting Irish, then there is not too much to be frightened of at the quarter-finals stage. They are becoming believers, as are the folks back home.

Comacho says: ‘‘It’s sudden death now, we have got through the more cagey preliminary round and it’s all about attacking. We will do that, we have the players to do that.

‘‘You will see games in the knock-out stages that are full of goals and adventure. We will try to do our best in that way.’’

What Comacho has instilled into his team is a lack of brittleness, their movement and pace is exceptional and they’ve got better and better as the tournament has gone on.

After playing 400 games for his club and 81 for Spain, Comacho knows what it takes to be a winner.

And he knows what it is like to be a World Cup failure as a player, figuring in two such shambles.

After spells as coach with Espanyol, Seville and Vallecano, he was appointed Real Madrid chief in 1998. He lasted 22 days, famously walking out after a disagreement with the board.

Spain did not think for long. They appointed the 47-year-old as national coach and he led them to Euro 2000 and now this World Cup. The bottom line is that his players believe in him and do what they are told.

Beforehand the stories were all of friction between Catalans and the players from Madrid, about a lack of national unity in the Spanish team. Camacho has put an end to all that.

Now all Spain have to do is turn all this into consistency. They had won only three of 12 before arriving here but now they have won their last four internationals and are starting to fancy their chances.

And the fact that Comacho can turn out a shadow squad to beat South Africa that includes eight changes and includes the likes of Gaizka Mendieta, Xavi, Sergio and Ivan Helguera shows that the Spanish boss does have the strength in depth to change the Spanish view on the World Cup forever.