Euro Cup 2012: Team Profile Spain (know the participating Team, Spain)

There is less than 12 hours to begin the world’s one of the most exciting tournament euro Cup 2012 where all 16 qualified European giants will fight for the cup.

www.anantasports.com is bringing the profiles of all the participating team to its readers and here it is Spain. Spain is taking part in the tournaments under the guidance of Coach Vicente Del Boasque. 

Vicente Del Boasque’s Side qualified for Euro 2012 with a 100 per cent record, making it only the fourth time (France for Euro 92 and 2004, and Czech Republic for Euro 2000) that a nation advanced to the finals of the European Championship with a perfect run in the qualifiers.

      Labeled as perennial underachievers in international football, Spain's only ever senior title prior to 2008 was the 1964 European Championship on home soil when they defeated the Soviet Union 2-1 in the final. By winning the competition again at Euro 2008 in Austria-Switzerland, they became the second most successful nation in the tournament along with France, lagging behind only Germany, who have lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy three times.

Spain Team for Euro 2012

Despite a shock opening loss to Switzerland, Spain were simply too good for the rest at the 2010 World Cup, which they won after beating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final via Andres Iniesta's late goal. Before that, they had never even reached a World Cup semi-final.

Coach Vicente Del Boasque

A mustachioed, unassuming character from Salamanca, Vicente del Bosque led Real Madrid to the most successful spell in its modern history before being jettisoned in 2003. Credited by players for creating a sense of serenity within the gifted squad, he succeeded Luis Aragones after Euro 2008 and began his reign with 13 straight wins as Spain set a world record of 15 straight victories - and went on to lift the 2010 World Cup. An astute and liberating presence, he signed a new contract in April.

Spain Coach Vicente Del Boasque

 Captain Iker Casillas

Casillas inherited the Spain arm-band from Raul and in doing so, he became the first goalkeeper to lift the European Championship trophy as skipper in 2008. Two years later in South Africa, he became only the third ever shot-stopper to captain a national team to World Cup glory.

The Real Madrid custodian also holds the honour of being his country's most capped player, eclipsing Andoni Zubizarreta's previous tally of 126 appearances. In addition, he has surpassed the same player to become La Furia Roja's record holder for the cleanest sheets in the Spanish national team.

Spain captain Iker Casillas

Player to watch Xavi

The Barcelona midfield maestro controls the engine room that keeps the Spain side ticking with his extraordinary vision, passing range, ball control, and an uncanny ability to find gaps to thread passes through the tightest of defences. The playmaker has always been hailed as a phenomenal footballer at club level, but he only rose to global prominence when he masterminded his country's path to glory in Euro 2008 and was named Player of the Tournament.

Since then, he has become one of the most consistent footballers today, finishing fifth in the Ballon d'Or awards in 2008, and third in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Spain Player Xavi

How Spain Qualify for Euro 2012:

Defending Champion and world Cup winner Spain topped the qualifying Group I ahead of Czech Republic and Scotland. Spain qualified for Euro 2012 with a 100 per cent record, making it only the fourth time after Czech Republic, Germany and France

GROUP I	GP	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Spain (Q)	8	8	0	0	20	24
2	Czech Republic (P)	8	4	1	3	4	13
3	Scotland	8	3	2	3	-1	11
4	Lithuania	8	1	2	5	-9	5
5	Liechtenstein	8	1	1	6	-14	4

Qualification Result For Spain

Sep 3, 2010 Liechtenstein 0-4 Spain
Oct 8, 2010 Spain 3-1 Lithuania
Oct 12, 2010 Scotland 2-3 Spain
Mar 25, 2011 Spain 2-1 Czech Republic
Mar 29, 2011 Lithuania 1-3 Spain
Sep 6, 2011: Spain 6-0 Liechtenstein
Oct 7, 2011: Czech Republic 0-2 Spain
Oct 11, 2011: Spain 3-1 Scotland

Jersy:

Brand: Adidas
Home Jersey: Red
Away Jersey: Light blue with broad, black, gradual fading diagonal stripes

Spain Home and Away Jersy

Spain Squad For Euro 2012:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Jordi Alba (Valencia), Juanfran Torres (Atletico Madrid)

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Juan Mata (Chelsea), Santi Cazorla (Malaga)

Forwards: David Silva (Manchester City), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla)

Style of play: The key to Spain's attacking and fluent 4-3-3 formation (sometimes morphing into a 4-2-3-1) is tiki-taka, a pass-and-move game with an emphasis on possession and quick ball movement. Spain keeps a narrow shape in midfield and attacking, relying on the outside fullbacks to provide width. Setting up in front of the back four is the twin axis of Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso who serve as the link between defence and midfield. In front of them, Xavi acts as the main creator, pulling the strings with the help of Andres Iniesta and David Silva who tuck in from the flanks. With David Villa out, Fernando Llorente will lead the line up front