U.S. tackles No. 1 Spain
It was a memorable night in Northern Ireland.
A crowd of 14,500 had packed into tiny Windsor Park in Belfast to watch the home team play Spain in an early qualifying match for soccer’s Euro 2008 tournament.
The Irish were decided underdogs. The Spanish were ranked seventh in the world.
Xavi put Spain ahead after only 14 minutes. But David Healy tied it up. David Villa restored Spain’s lead early in the second half. But Healy again tied it up.
With 10 minutes to go, Healy scored his third goal of the night, Northern Ireland survived Spain’s furious last few thrusts, and the game was won, 3-2.
As the BBC’s correspondent noted at the time: “Northern Ireland defied the odds, defied their critics, defied logic.”
The date was Sept. 6, 2006.
Spain has not lost since then.
It not only qualified for Euro 2008 but won the whole thing, its first international triumph in 44 years. The upset in Belfast launched the Spaniards on an unbeaten run that has reached 35 games, tying Brazil’s world record set between 1993 and 1996.
Spain has won its last 15 games, another world record. It is no longer No. 7 in FIFA’s rankings. It is now No. 1, and has been for quite a while.
Today, the United States stands in its path.
The teams play in a semifinal of the Confederations Cup at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa at 11:25 a.m., PDT, which will be televised on ESPN2 and TeleFutura.
It is a daunting prospect for the Americans, who were beaten, 3-1, by Italy and humiliated, 3-0, by Brazil only to bounce back and thrash Egypt, 3-0, to secure an unexpected place in the tournament’s final four.
Spain’s path to the semifinals was less stressful. It overwhelmed New Zealand, 5-0, fought off a determined Iraq to win, 1-0, and then outclassed host South Africa, 2-0.
Coach Vicente del Bosque, who took over after Luis Aragones led Spain to its Euro 2008 title and has yet to lose a game, probably will field his strongest lineup today, not wanting to stumble one step before the final and the prospect of a mouthwatering clash with Brazil, assuming the Brazilians overcome South Africa in Thursday’s semifinal.
The Spanish roster makes for intimidating reading, even though it does not feature Barcelona’s mercurial Andres Iniesta, who missed the tournament because of injury.
Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas should start in goal, with Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos at right back. The central defenders could be Barcelona’s Carles Puyol and Valencia’s Raul Albiol, with Villarreal’s Joan Capdevila at left back.
The midfield and forward lines are where Spain is at its creative best and most dangerous.
Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso, Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona’s Xavi and Liverpool’s Albert Riera could make up the midfield, although Del Bosque could give Valencia’s elusive David Silva a start to further rattle the U.S. defense.
Up front, Spain features one of the game’s most prolific scoring tandems in Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Valencia’s Villa.
Torres has 22 goals for Spain, including the winner against Germany in the Euro 2008 final. Villa has done even better, 31 goals in 47 matches.
It will either be a long night or a historic one in Bloemfontein. Just like Belfast.
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