To think Isco can't make the 30 man squad is just frightening!!

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It seems many of you here dont think Atletico will go for Negredo to replace Diego Costa.

I also think Jackson Martinez is also ready for a move away from Porto.

Regarding Torres - i believe he will go to the World Cup.
Hes too big name a player not to go.

Isco has plenty of time, he shouldn't be worried.

Unlikely Negredo will be moved on after a season.

Martinez has been mooted before. As has Rodrigo from Benfica. I really like the look of Rodrigo, and while he's not and out and out cf he could probably play up front with Villa as well as being developed into a lone striker if they wish to go that way.

Seen Rakitic has been linked with Atleti as well, would be a great signing for them.

He reminds me a bit of larsson.

Rakitic isn't going to be short of suitors. Madrid have been linked for some time now. No idea how much his release clause is, but if he starts alongside Modric and Croatia have a good World Cup - which I think they might - it's going to be interesting to see how much he goes for.

Rodrigo would have been a good buy last season when he featured less for Benfica; right now I think he might be a bit pricey. Negredo I thnk would be too expensive too. He's faded in the second half of the season, but still got plenty to prove at City and I doubt they'd let him go on the cheap.

For the World Cup, Villa, Negredo and probably even Llorente should make it ahead of Torres imo.

Still think Torres will go.
Del Bosque will be a fool not to take him.

Torres deserves to go.
Llorente - has had a good season with Juventus however i don't think he is international level.
Hes a bit like Andy Carroll.

forza is back


i think Llorente adds something to Spain's squad...but with costa now a "spaniard" and with physical presence too, i think del boy will go with him

Unless they use Llorente as a target man like West Ham do with Carroll - It would be pointless taking Llorente

Besides Llorente would more likely slow the play.
Costa & Torres would be a good partnership.

I'm not sure Costa will be able to hack the atmosphere in Brazil. He already looks more subdued than normal in big games; Brazil is going to be completely off the scale.

Grande
You would be justified in asking for Torres to be picked if he was any good but he is plain awful! "Regarding Torres - i believe he will go to the World Cup.
Hes too big name a player not to go." That I am afraid is simply not a good enough reason.

Hiya Wump.

I wouldn't be surprised if he goes, but basically because Del Boy's a very conservative coach and very much trusts in the old guard. Either way, I can see Costa as a dead cert, and then one of Negredo/Llorente plus one out of Torres/Villa.

Sup ioag
I would be disappointed if he was picked because I really can't think of any reason why should be picked other than the reason that he has been there before. If sense prevails he would pick Costa, Negredo and Villa. Btw I have always felt the game against Germany in the last world cup could have ended differently if he hadn't dropped Torres for Pedro in that game.

I would be disappointed if he was picked because I really can't think of any reason why should be picked other than the reason that he has been there before.
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Well, I do think experience is a major factor in this sort of event. It isn't everything of course, but it's got to weigh heavily in the case of a team that's won everything. Also, as terrible as Torres has been in the past few seasons, he does have a knack of turning up in important games. You can of course choose more in-from albeit less experienced players, but the risk is that they're an unknown qunatity when the heat is really on.

As for Torres and Germany, despite his lack of goals I actually think Torres' World Cup performances were heavily underrated. He created acres of space for Villa and others to move into and was involved in a large proportion of Spain's goals in South Africa.

Just to offer some perspective on this, I have never, ever been a great fan of Torres, not even during his best years at Liverpool.

he does have a knack of turning up in important games.
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Okay, maybe that is one reason to pick him. Funny though as I was a massive fan of him in his best Liverpool years but nowadays I just see him as being plain awful! He is broken and I am afraid he is just too old to be fixed now.

The Germany game, I was absolutely happy Del boy dropped him as I was getting kind of sick of seeing him in the shirt. I said throughout the tournament until that game that if Spain didn't win it, it would be because of sticking with him while playing so poorly. Pedro was absolutely brilliant I felt in that game. I think we will just have to disagree on his performances because I thought he was pretty bad not as bad as he is nowadays but bad nonetheless.

BTW as you can tell, I am huge Spain fan. Been one since I started following football in the mid 90s. You being Spanish, do you have as much excitement about this tournament like the previous one? I am asking because funny enough after all the success, I will be absolutely thrilled if Spain won it but wouldn't be too bothered if they don't. Is it the same for you Spanish folk?

Also, I really hope Xavi puts in a Zidane type performance circa 2006WC to go out on a high. No headbutts though!!! I feel his form in the tournament (esp the latter stages) will determine whether Spain win it or not.

Sorry Wump, been in and out of lessons all morning.

Imo, it would take that kind of performance from Xavi for us to retain the title, but I'm afraid I haven't really seen anything in him in the past two years to suggest he's capable of it. That's why I'm pretty pessimistic about this World Cup and don't hold any high hopes for us going into it. In fact, I'm not even too confident of us getting out of the group stage.

As a result, no, I'm not at all excited. 2008-12 were incredible years, especially because being the age I am, I had witnessed failure after failure, Spain flattering to deceive at every tournament and going out just as it started to feel like we had a real chance. It came to the point that after 2006, I even swore I wouldn't watch us play again until we reached the semifinal of a major tournament. My vow only lasted about 5 or 6 qualifying games and then I was back again looking for my intravenous dose of frustration and success materialised when nobody in Spain really believed any more that it was actually possible.

Out of thre three titles, I only found 2008 truly exhilarating, both for the unexpected nature of the success itself and for the manner in which it was achieved.

In 2010 it felt like anything but winning the title would be a failure, and when we did finally win it, more than pure joy the feeling was more one of being relieved of a lifelong burden.

In fact, I'm not even too confident of us getting out of the group stage.
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You're taking the pìss, right?

Netherlands & Chile, no I'm not.

They're good, but they're that good, Spain have still have the most talented and balanced squad.

No problem mate, I figured. I know what you mean about that 2008 win. It was absolutely magical! Especially how Spain totally outplayed Germany in the final. The 2010 WC, I was a nervous wreak throughout the whole tournament. Anything but a win would have been a huge disappointment. In 2012, I won't lie, it was a strange feeling, a bit of an anti-climax to be honest.

About Xavi, for all the riches Spain have in midfield it is insane to think how much their performance is dependent on his! What a player. One of the absolute best midfielders I ever got to watch, well I am young so I never watched the Platinis but still! Interesting to see how they build their side after he retires from international footie.

You are actually scared of the Dutch ioag? I don't think they will do much in this tournament to be honest. The last world cup was their last chance for quite a while I feel. They really did have a great, well rounded squad then. They have nothing like that now.

I'm scared of any side that has enough quality up front to pounce on a single chance. We are so non-commital and conservative nowadays that we seem happy to play for a 1-0 win that we're confident will come around in injury time.