Spain play two enticing friendlies during the international break, against Germany on Friday in Dusseldorf, then Argentina on Tuesday in the first international to be staged at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano.
Playing the reigning world champions, and the team they beat in the 2014 final, should be ideal preparation for a Spain side that are fourth favourites to win the competition behind Germany, Brazil and France.
Spain, who won the World Cup in 2010 and the European championships in 2008 and 2012, were a let down in the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 European championships, the 5-1 hammering by Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands in the 2014 opener shattering their aura of invincibility - they didn’t get out of the group stage.
Defeat to Italy in the last 16 stage in France two years ago meant a second successive disappointment, but Spain recovered to finish clear of the Italians when paired with them for qualifiers ahead of Russia.
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Julen Lopetegui’s men looked convincing in qualifying, winning nine and drawing one of their 10 group games as they topped Group G ahead of Italy, Albania, Israel, Macedonia and Liechtenstein. Spain scored 36 goals and conceded only three. They have a solid spine, with David de Gea probably the best goalkeeper in the world, though Germany’s Ter Stegen or Manuel Neuer might dispute that.
De Gea is the only Manchester United player involved in the squad his weekend, with Juan Mata and Ander Herrera not selected given the overstock of talent in Spain’s midfield. Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas also misses out.
In Gerard Pique, Spain have an experienced defender still at the top of his game – though he’s usually jeered by some Spain fans for his perceived thoughts on Catalan independence and his chiding of Real Madrid. He actually gets on well with his central defensive partner, Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, another serial winner who rises to the biggest games.
In front, Pique's Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets remains the best on the planet in his position as a defensive midfielder. Andres Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in that 2010 final, is still featuring alongside the excellent and much younger Koke, Isco and Marco Asensio. Iniesta is considering his future amid persistent talk that he's going to China at the end of the season.
Spain’s goalkeeper, defence and midfield is all largely predictable. The two full-backs, Madrid’s Dani Carvajal and Barca’s Jordi Alba, were regulars in qualifying, as was David Silva further forward.
It is how they will play up front which is up for debate.
For the 3-0 win against Italy which confirmed their qualification for Russia, Spain didn’t field a natural forward, with the returning David Villa on the bench alongside Alvaro Morata, who has been struggling for form at Chelsea. Gerard Deulofeu, who can also play as a forward, was also on the bench with Pedro as the imperious Silva played in an advanced role, scoring twice.
As they have for the past decade, Spain, currently ranked sixth in the world, remain full of top quality talents. Their second XI would probably be a top 10 side, with players like Saul Niguez, Nacho Monreal, Pedro or Iago Aspas unlikely to start their biggest games, but this has long been so.
The key is to get them playing as winning unit, something 51-year-old Lopetegui, who is respected among his players, has managed to do in qualifying. He is yet to lose any of his 16 games since taking charge in 2016. Germany, who won all the qualifiers with an even better record than Spain, are unbeaten in 21.
He has also called up Diego Costa for the first time since 2016. The Brazil-born forward, now happy and back at Atletico, will give them another powerful dimension in contrast to the more balletic footballers behind him.
These games against Germany and Argentina are friendlies, but they are still big tests which could give some insight how Lopetegui’s men are likely fare this summer.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
