Spain billed as favourites again

The Spanish national team go into the European Championships this summer billed as one of the favourites once again. But what will be vital for Xavi, Carles Puyol and Andrés Iniesta is that they at least reach the quarter final stage.

Luis Aragonés is fully qualified to finally end la Furia Roja's indifferent form in major tournaments and he will employ his attacking style of play in a bid to progress in the tournament. Possession of the ball in the midfield is key to Spain's tactics and in order to achieve that they have called up some of the most skilful passers in Xavi, Iniesta, David Silva, Cesc and Cazorla.

Key components

Using the Euro 2008 qualifiers as a reference, it is not a bold prediction to state that the Barça trio of Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta will play major roles in the team's game. Puyol is a key member of the defence, while Xavi and Iniesta are vital in midfield, while the latter has also played on the right flank for the team before.

Five former stars

Alongside the three current Blaugrana stars, the Spanish squad contains five former Barça players. Mallorca's Fernando Navarro, Real Zaragoza's Sergio García, Liverpool's Pepe Reina and former Camp Nou youth teamers Daniel Güiza, from Mallorca, and Cesc Fábregas, from Arsenal.

Going through

If Spain can progress from Group D in the opening phase, where they must play Russia, Greece and Sweden, the next stage will even harder because they will then meet one of the qualifiers from the group containing France, Italy, Holland and Romania.