Spain and Iraq left the final home friendly with a 1-1 draw, which has some positives and concerns for Spain as they get ready for the FIFA World Cup.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente didn’t show much reaction after the game, stressing that the primary objective was to get through the game without an injury. The friendly also gave him the opportunity to get some new faces in, where a number of youngsters made their senior debut. It shows Spain’s medium/long-term planning as well as immediate preparation for tournaments.
During the match control was not the same. Spain’s possession time was high for the majority of the game but they failed to capitalise on their control. Iraq defended well, and remained compact, allowing little time for a Spanish player to find room in the final third.
Spain’s head coach believes the game is part of a larger development process. Friendly games at this stage are more about the structure, rhythm and the evaluation of the squad rather than results.
Luis de la Fuente also noted that preparations will be stepped up when the team comes to North America for the FIFA World Cup. It is likely to emphasize tactical control, game management and opposition preparation to a greater degree.
Spain are still one of the tournament favourites thanks to their technical midfield organization and versatility in midfields. But the drawback of games like these is a very important one: consistently penetrating low blocks.
While the draw against Iraq might not be that particularly concerning, it does give some valuable information to coach for changes. A major focus for the future will be on efficiency in attack.
Spain’s preparation is going well, although their performance indicates that they still need to fine-tune themselves for more serious competition in the World Cup.
