Following the disaster that was their title defence four years ago, Spain will be hoping to make amends at the 2018 FIFA World Cup following yet another flawless qualifying campaign on their way to topping UEFA Group G.
La Furia Roja registered nine wins and a draw from their allotted fixtures as they booked their place at a 15th world showpiece. Isco, Diego Costa, David Silva and Álvaro Morata netting five goals apiece as the 2010 champions finished five points clear of Italy.
Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta, Cesc Fàbregas and Silva still form an integral part of the national set up eight years after their triumph in South Africa, and the Spanish faithful will be hoping that their ‘golden generation’ can add a second world title to their ranks - to add to the two UEFA European championships they clinched over the past decade.
Julen Lopetegui has been tasked with bringing home another title, with the former goalkeeper able to call on a catalogue of stars.
Thiago Alcântara, Suso, Isco, Morata, Marco Asensio. Rodrigo and David De Gea are among those who conquered Europe at youth level - now aiming to climb to the summit of the world, having watched their heroes bring joy to the Spanish nation.
epa06855621 Koke of Spain reacts after missing a penalty during the penalty shootout of the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018. Russia won 4-3 on penalties.
epa06855546 Dani Carvajal (R) of Spain in action against Fedor Kudryashov (L) of Russia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018.
epa06855443 Dani Carvajal (L) of Spain in action against Fedor Kudryashov (R) of Russia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018.
epa06855545 Roman Zobnin of Russia (R) and Andres Iniesta of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018.
epa06855439 Dani Carvajal (L) of Spain in action against Fedor Smolov (R) of Russia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018.
epa06855096 Roman Zobnin of Russia (R) and Jordi Alba of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018.
epa06855057 Daler Kuzyaev (L) of Russia in action against Isco (R) of Spain during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018.
epa06855063 Daler Kuzyaev (L) of Russia in action against Isco (R) of Spain during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018.
epa06855084 Sergio Ramos (R) of Spain and Artem Dzyuba of Russia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018.
epa06855092 The ball hits the arm of Gerard Pique of Spain which results in a penalty during the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Russia in Moscow, Russia, 01 July 2018.
epa06840103 Jordi Alba (C) of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Spain and Morocco in Kaliningrad, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06840038 Thiago Alcantara (L) of Spain and Hakim Ziyach of Morocco in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Spain and Morocco in Kaliningrad, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06840053 Noureddine Amrabat (L) of Morocco and Sergio Ramos of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Spain and Morocco in Kaliningrad, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06839923 Thiago Alcantara (L) of Spain and Younes Belhanda of Morocco during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Spain and Morocco in Kaliningrad, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06839867 Diego Costa (L) of Spain and Noureddine Amrabat of Morocco in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Spain and Morocco in Kaliningrad, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06825669 Isco (R) of Spain and Omid Ebrahimi of Iran in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
epa06825581 Sergio Ramos (L) of Spain and Sardar Azmoun of Iran in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
epa06825582 Diego Costa (R) of Spain celebrates with teammate Isco after scoring the opening goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
epa06825592 Ramin Rezaeian (L) of Iran and Isco of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
Karim Ansarifard (L) of Iran and Dani Carvajal of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
epa06825491 Ehsan Haji Safi (L) of Iran and Lucas Vazquez of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
epa06825498 Andres Iniesta (L) of Spain and Mehdi Taremi (R) of Iran in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
epa06825508 Ehsan Haji Safi (L) of Iran and Dani Carvajal of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
epa06825488 Sergio Busquets (L) of Spain and Sardar Azmoun of Iran in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
epa06825470 Ehsan Haji Safi (L) of Iran and Lucas Vazquez of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Iran and Spain in Kazan, Russia, 20 June 2018.
epa06811553 Cristiano Ronaldo (2-L) of Portugal converts a free kick to score the 3-3 equalizer during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Sochi, Russia, 15 June 2018.
epa06811418 Diego Costa of Spain celebrates after scoring the 2-2 equalizer during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Sochi, Russia, 15 June 2018.
epa06811214 Goncalo Guedes of Portugal (R) and Koke of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Sochi, Russia, 15 June 2018.
epa06811187 Andres Iniesta (C) of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Sochi, Russia, 15 June 2018.
epa06811192 Isco of Spain (L) and Cedric of Portugal in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Sochi, Russia, 15 June 2018.
epa06811210 Diego Costa (R) of Spain and Jose Fonte of Portugal in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Sochi, Russia, 15 June 2018.
epa06811176 Bernardo Silva (L) of Portugal and Isco of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Sochi, Russia, 15 June 2018.
epa06811174 Nacho of Spain (L) and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Sochi, Russia, 15 June 2018.
epa06811186 Cristiano Ronaldo (L) of Portugal in action against David Silva (R) of Spain during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Sochi, Russia, 15 June 2018.
Spain
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