Although Portugal, or more precisely Cristiano Ronaldo, denied Spain an opening day victory at this World Cup, there was no doubting the quality throughout the La Roja side.
David De Gea’s howler aside, the level of technical skill on show was jaw-dropping.
By some distance, Spain have the best squad at the tournament, and for many, they remain the team to beat.
The ‘golden generation’ is inching further away into football history, and there are a few players that will have their last hurrah in Russia.
Post-tournament, the make-up of the team will look quite different.
A cliche it might be, but football supporters really do need to enjoy this team whilst they have the chance, starting with tomorrow evening's tie with Iran.
Gerard Pique
A polarising figure off of the pitch, there’s no real doubting Gerard Pique’s quality on it.
Together with Sergio Ramos, the elegant centre-back forms one half of probably the best central defensive pairing in international football.
It’s true that he’s lost a yard of pace and the quicker strikers that face Spain will seek to take advantage.
However, both positionally and in terms of his distribution, the level of his work is almost peerless.
Once he hangs up his boots after Spain exit the tournament, the new coach will have to consider whether Ramos’ club mate, Nacho, joins him or whether they look elsewhere for the captain’s mate.
Either way, Pique will be a massive loss.
Andres Iniesta
Don Andres.
The player who will forever be remembered for bringing Spain their first, and to date only, World Cup.
Even without Xavi alongside him, the midfield genius has kept things ticking along in that area of the pitch in the only way that he can.
A mastery of the ball that is unsurpassed, his nous, elegance and grace won’t ever be repeated.
Leaving Barcelona was a wrench but it was the right time to do so.
For much the same reason, this tournament represents Iniesta’s international swan song.
It’s not just Spain that will be the poorer.
Sergio Busquets
Completing the trio of Barcelona players that are unlikely to be around come Qatar 2022 is Sergio Busquets.
A player that Vicente Del Bosque wishes he was reincarnated as, and who, whilst never really a headline grabber in terms of performance, is integral to everything good that Spain do.
As the saying goes, watch the game and you don’t see Busquets, watch Busquets and you see everything.
Pep Guardiola preferred him over Yaya Toure for Barcelona, and since he burst into the scene as a 20-year-old, there’s been no player that has come close to his excellence in the defensive midfield role.
An absolute colossus.
How on earth do you replace that trio?
