Madrid, Jun 24 (IANS): Spain bowed out of the FIFA World Cup Monday after a 3-0 win over Australia to salvage some pride from their disastrous campaign that will probably see a major change taking place in the country’s national team.
The 2014 World Cup was a tournament too much for a squad, which has altered little since winning the 2008 European Championships, reports Xinhua.
But the team will now have to undergo a profound restructuring with several players reaching the end of their careers and likely announce their international retirement in the near future, like David Villa did so.
Villa will be joined by Xavi Hernandez and quite possibly by Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres, while others such as Raul Albiol, Santi Cazorla and Juanfran Torres probably have a limited international future.
Others such as Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, David Silva, Andres Iniesta, Javi Martinez, Juan Mata (who has been very underused by coach Vicente del Bosque) and Cesar Azpilicueta, still have some way to go, but the door is clearly open for a new generation of players to come forward.
Should Casillas and Reina retire, that could leave Manchester United keeper David De Gea as first choice for Del Bosque, who could look to Espanyol's Kiko Casilla to provide support.
Tall and commanding on crosses, Casilla, who confusingly was once substitute to Casillas at Real Madrid, is an excellent all-round keeper ready to make the step up.
A look at recent Spain Under-21 squad shows there is no dearth of talent waiting to breakthrough in defence with Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno and Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal certain to get their chance after being included in Del Bosque's preliminary squad of 30 for the World Cup.
Valencia's Juan Bernat has also showed his pace and ability, while Barca central defender, Marc Bartra made his debut last season along with Real Sociedad's Inigo Martinez.
There are also talented players waiting for their chance in midfield. Athletic Club Bilbao's Ander Iturraspe was another player who made the preliminary squad of 30, but failed to travel and his team-mates
Andre Herrera and winger Iker Muniain must also be knocking on the door after an impressive season.
Many wondered why Real Madrid's Isco failed to make the preliminary squad, but he is another player whose moment will surely come after the summer, while Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara would have been in Brazil but for a knee injury.
Spain's options may be more limited in attack, but big striker Fernando Llorente surely deserves another chance after a great season in Italy, while Barca youngster Gerard Deulofeu was also called up to train with the full squad before the World Cup and Real Madrid's Jese Rodriguez enjoyed a spectacular first season in the Primera Liga before suffering a cruciate ligament damage.
Providing he recovers well Jese is another whose first cap seems to be just a question of time and perhaps the pick of the crop of a group of players whose presence shows that although Spain have been the disappointment of the World Cup, there is no need for the fans to lament too long or too hard.