Can Spain do the impossible and retain their World Cup crown?

So just how far can Spain go this summer?

Coach: Vicente Del Bosque

Captain: Iker Casillas

Player to look out for: Diego Costa

Star Players: Ramos, Iniesta, Alonso, Alba, Juanfran…all of them.

Can Vicente Del Bosque’s men do it again for La Roja for a second World Cup win?

Quite possibly. The defending World Champions will be looking to regain their championship status in this year’s FIFA World Cup Competition in Brazil.

With three consecutive title wins since 2008, including two European Cup titles and the 2010 World Cup win, all eyes are on the Spain squad and their chances of repeating the success for another consecutive year and become two time World Cup Champions.

This year’s team appears to have little difference from the usual national heroes with the likes of Casillas, Torres, Villa, Ramos, Iniesta and Fabregas making the cut yet again.

For many of them, it will, most likely, be the last World Cup they face, as Villa has already announced his desire for international retirement with Xavi likely to follow. Let’s hope they can end their international play on a World Cup high!

Vicente Del Bosque has also included new faces to the team such as, Diego Casta, who makes his first appearance as a Spanish national in the competition, whilst winger Jesus Navas and goalkeeper Victor Valdes miss out.

Wining eight out of the last ten matches, La Roja continue to be strong with all eyes on Costa to make an impressive World Cup debut for Spain.

Torres and Iniesta continue to keep firing for the national side, by scoring two late goals against Bolivia, as did David Villa who surprised everyone hitting the net twice for a 2-0 win in their last friendly against El Salvador.

Sergio Ramos is consistently strong and robust in defence and with the support of Jordi Alba and Pique, the defence should once again hold firm. The midfield is reliably resilient with Alonso, Iniesta and Xavi providing enough support to the forwards.

Spain face Holland in the first stages of Group B, with Chile and Australia making up the rest of the Group.

Spanish coach, Del Bosque, states that they have nothing to fear against their first encounter on Friday and considering Spain achieved a 1-0 win over Holland in the last World Cup final back in 2010, Spain fans around the world hope that that will be the case again.

Criticized for having an aging team, the forwards being weak and a slow midfield, the defending champions do face challenges if they wish to lift the World title again. All teams are targeting La Furia Roja this year, putting them in the spotlight and with the odds of facing Italy in the quarter finals (which never proves to be easy), the Spanish side face great obstacles.

Not being as strong as they were in 2010, the Spanish glory may now be exhausted especially as other opposing teams, such as hosts Brazil, look strong this year. The odds are against the Spanish.

It has been 52 years since a defending Champion has retained their crown, with Brazil the last country to have done so in 1962. Yet, Spain may beat all odds for a second time and become the sole squad to win two Wold Cup and two European Cups.

How far can Spain go this summer? Let us know your thoughts below or tweet us @LaFootyettes.