Spain are lucky in that they have MANY class players who can compete for positions.

Much like in club football, when a team (& certain players) under-perform, the impetus is on the manager to shake things up.

Xavi is still a good player, but walks straight into the team, almost out of sentiment, like at Barce (IMO).

David Silva (although he didn't start last night) also had a pretty tame tournament by his standards.

If I was Del Bosque, I'd shake things up again. Start Mata, Martinez, Cazorla & Fabregas (if fit) in coming games. Not only to try something different, but to show the likes of Xavi, Silva & co, that with a World Cup coming up, playing on auto-pilot won't cut it and someone can and will take your place if you are not performing!

I think Spain's issue this tournement is a mental one, rather than tiredness (although they do look spread a little thing energy wise).

They don't seem to have either the same desire or the same arrogance about their play that they have had in previous tournaments.

They seem like they have lost a bit of belief in their style of play, effectively passing teams to death regardless of how boring it is to watch.

Perhaps some of the players are still recovering from Barca's loss to Bayern over two legs.

Fabregas has to Start for Spain if they wan't to win the world cup.

He provides goals and can play that final ball with ease. (He doesnt need to do that pass and pass ect before setting up someone, one look up and he has the range to make the pass happen)

As Good as Xavi & Iniesta may be how many goals do these have between them? They got away with it for so long because Torres & Villa where smashing them in.

When you have a flop like Torres up front who can only score against the likes of Tahita you have a problem.

I'd have

----Biscuits--Martinez---
-------------Xavi-------------
Pedro--------------Iniesta-
------------Cesc-------------

Busquest Martinez
Navas Fab Iniesta
Silva


Would work well I reckon, I think they play brilliantly when Silva is up top. Possibly Mata for Fab.

They played Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas with great effect together in the first game vs Uruguay.

How on earth are the likes of Navas and Pedro starting ahead of Cazorla?
I know that those guys are direct and whatnot. But surely Cazorla would cause more damage.

Too many similar players innit.

Navas was quite effective for Spain, it helps them to have someone a little more direct. Santi should definitely start ahead of Pedro (who's been average), Mata, and Silva (who's been awful).

Navas will be a good buy for City.

But i thought Nasri would aswell