The prognostics & speculations concerning what will be the SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM STARTING 11 LINE UP against PORTUGAL is difficult to say as the teams advance in the WORLD CUP. Both sides are training behind closed doors & are keeping their cards very close to their chest. Media observers following the SPAIN WORLD CUP TEAM are speculating more than giving any reliable facts as they too are being “shut” out from the details. This is logical, as the stakes rise for the teams the more "secretive" things are as they advance & each looks for whatever advantage they can gain over their next rival.
Having said this, we are still able to get some clues & at least hypothetically think about a possible starting 11. Here are some facts from which we can build on:1. Defender Raul Albiol is not contemplated under any circumstance due to a training injury that at first was believed more serious than what it really is; an ankle sprain of the ligaments
2. Xabi Alonso is racing against time to recovery from an ankle strain gained in the match against Chile. This will be a last minute decision as Xabi is evolving better than expected...but!
3. Fernando Torres should be ok after experiencing “muscle tiredness” against Chile.
4. Capdevila has demonstrated his age by falling physically in form towards the end of the games & he may be rested for the bigger games if Spain beats Portugal.
5. Ramos still feels pain in the ribs area. However, that should not stop him
From here a SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM starting 11 against Portugal can be speculated with a reasonable low error margin, but I reiterate it is hypothetical as Coach Del Bosque may have a “wild card “ up his sleeve:
Casillas, Ramos, Pique, Puyol , Arbeloa ( Capdevila, if not), Busquets, Xabi Alonso ( Javi Martinez, if not) , Xavi , Iniesta, David Villa & Fernando Torres (David Silva, if not)
There could be 2 “wildcard” decisions in the "air", very remote, but possible:
1. If Xabi Alonso doesn’t make it Coach Del Bosque could decide to go out more offensively & put in Cesc Fabregas
2. If Coach Del Bosque decides to play with only one forward – leave Torres on the bench – David Silva could come in / or Cesc Fabregas.
As you can see, crystal ball looking stuff at this point with reference in trying to figure out what could be the SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM Starting 11 against Portugal. Tomorrow we may have more clues & thus I will fine-tune things as much as possible. Tweet
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