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Can Spain stave off the competition to complete an unprecedented hat-trick

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Lenny Boyle

Lenny Boyle



Euro 2012 Preview Spain

29/05/2012

Euro 2012 is just around the corner. The toughest international football event will kick off in Poland and Ukraine on June 8 and conclude July 1. This is the first in a series of LiveSport.co.uk blogs previewing the main contenders. First up are favourites Spain.

Spain are as little as 5/2 to win Euro 2012 with some bookies, including Sky Bet and Betfred. And for good reason. They head into the tournament as the holders and the World Champions, aiming for an unprecedented three major trophies in a row. For a Nation previously know for footballing underachievement this is one of the most dramatic turn arounds in the history of the game.

Spain are Barcelona plus. Barcelona have dominated the club game in recent years and Spain reflect this; Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, and Cesc Fabregas are all essential parts of this passing machine. Add Xabi Alonso of Real Madrid and it is clear why Barcelona plus are massive favourites for the competition.

The squad will miss attacking stalwart David Villa but Fernando Torres, Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo will have the job of making up for this shortcoming. The squad will also miss defensive warrior Carles Puyol. Indeed Villa is a big hit to the squad. He was the leading goal scorer in Euro 2008 and the joint leading goal scorer of the previous World Cup.

Fernando Llorente will be essential to a Villas-less Spain. He is 6ft 5in (a kind of Spanish Peter Crouch) and his 29 goals this season for Athletic Bilbao prove he can be ruthless in front of goal.

Of Spain’s 23 man squad 19 played in the South Africa World Cup and 12 in Euro 2008. So continuity is the name of the game for manager Vicente del Bosque. And why not? They are World and European Champions after all.

Remember you can watch live coverage of the games via the BBC and ITV, need a UK IP? Click Here



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