How far can Spain go at the World Cup in Russia and can Cristiano Ronaldo throw a spanner in the works?

Spain’s draw for the upcoming Russia World Cup is a million miles away from the ‘Group of Death’ scenario some pundits are implying but neither is it likely to be a walk in the park for Julen Lopetegui’s side.

It’s certainly an improvement on the vagaries of fate endured by Spain at the last World Cup, that saw an ageing, transitional, ‘seen-it, been-it, done-it, got the T-shirt’ Spanish side matched against the Netherlands and Chile in a group that always, correctly as it turned out, had a ‘banana-skin’ threat about it.

Nor in fact, in my opinion, is it as strong as the opposition they faced in the 2016 Euros when Croatia, Turkey and the Czech Republic were the opponents.

This time around, Portugal, Morocco and Iran have been drawn out of the hat and despite the fact that Portugal are the reigning European champions, on current form they, and Spain are the clear favourites to qualify for the next round.

Portugal and the Ronaldo factor

Cristiano has almost single-handedly carried the fortunes of his beloved Portugal on his back seemingly forever, but in the last European Championships the team showed they were more than just CR7. They still are: Andre Silva plays next to Ronaldo in a 4-4-2 that benefits both, Rui Patricio is a top goalkeeper, the full backs are some of the best in Europe, offensive and brave (Cedric and Eliseu), Pepe is the boss of the centre backs. Although the team prefers to defend deep, their midfield is more sophisticated and can alternate different possibilities than most -Bernardo Silva, Joao Moutinho, William Carvalho, Joao Mario.

Ronaldo will want to make an impact but he suspects he still has at least one more World Cup in his boots. Scoring against Spain could be one of his targets -despite being Portugal’s record goalscorer by a country mile, he has never scored in an international match against Spain. In the four matches (one friendly, three competitive) he has played against the country where he currently earns his living, he has managed just two shots on goal.

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Not that he hasn’t, on one occasion certainly, been one of Spain’s main tormentors. In 2004 it was his trickery and electric pace down the right wing which ran the unfortunate Raul Bravo so ragged that one wag commented that the poor full back was left with twisted blood. Spain were eliminated by the hosts and the Lisbon press began to eulogise about this phenomenal young talent that had come from Manchester via Sporting.

Ronaldo’s physique diminishes by the day, it is law of life. The once white hot pace that used to have defenders searching for the smelling salts is a thing of the past and was precisely the reason he effectively re-invented himself as one of the greatest strikers in the world. But in the last encounter with Spain, the semi finals of the 2012 Euros, the Spanish players realised that he could not beat defenders easily and doubled up on him. Ronaldo kept trying to work his magic from the wing but did not work -the transition to being a striker had not started by then. It will take place a couple of years later.

But the best chance he ever had to score against Spain was in that game in 2012, in the penalty shoot out after the 0-0 draw. He was scheduled to take the fifth Portuguese penalty, but misses by Moutinho and Bruno Alves rendered him surplus to requirements and Portugal went out 4-2 on spot kicks.

On June 15 in Sochi, the then 33-year-old will probably get his last chance to get the last laugh on the likes of Gerard Pique and current team mate, Sergio Ramos when the two sides meet in what will, very likely, be the match that will ultimately decide the Group B first and second placings.

Weak links in the group

Morocco and Iran should not really provide much of a threat although it’s worth noting that this is a Morocco side that has made it to the finals without so much as letting in a goal in qualifying and scoring 11.

Barcelona’s Munir, currently on loan at Alaves has asked for special dispensation to play for the country of his father’s birth. Unfortunately the fact that he has already played a match for the full international Spain side coming on Koke for the final 13 minutes of a Euro 2016 qualifier against Macedonia will not help his case. Vicente del Bosque has admitted to feel very guilty about it, as he decided to call him up in case he became the superstars some suggested he could be.

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He will not be helped either by the statements he made to the press after that game that he had never had any intentions whatsoever of playing for anyone other than Spain assist his appeal.

And despite the fact the Morocco would be delighted to welcome him back, even if FIFA allow him to switch nationalities he isn’t an automatic starter either and will have to fight for a place with top scorer Khalid Boutaib of Yeni Malatyaspor and wingers Nordin Amrabat of Leganes and Hakim Ziyech of Ajax.

Iran could and should be the whipping boys of the group and the noises coming out of the camp via the social media connections of its coach Carlos Queiroz do not bode well for the side. A perceived lack of support being shown for the national side by the country’s football authorities has quite clearly got well and truly under the Portuguese manager’s skin and he was quick to say so on Facebook before adding that if his comments meant they were going to sack him, then so be it.

This has not been his first run in with his employers in what is clearly a marriage of convenience rather than a love match. He has resigned in the past but has now agreed to continue at the helm for the 2018 World Cup campaign. The portents are not good and in Russia his side will be facing sterner tests than the likes of Oman, India, Turkmenistan and Guam, flour of the sides they encountered in the earlier stages of qualification.

How far can Spain go in Russia?

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This is unquestionably an excellent side built and fashioned by Lopetegui that reminds one of the del Bosque side at its best, but now even better prepared to launch killing counter attacks and pressure high which was not a huge part of the World Cup winning team.

On the negative side the jury is still out on who is the perfect choice to put on the main attacker’s shirt, and Alvaro Morata is ahead while Diego Costa gets match fit, but what became clearer and clearer as Spain bulldozed their way through the qualifiers is that this will definitively be ‘Isco’s’ Spain’ and he like Xavi and Andres Iniesta were before him, will probably be the focal point of the Spanish side.

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If Spain win their group they will face the runners up of Group A which could well be the hosts Russia, or Uruguay should they fail to seal top spot. Finish first or second the likelihood is that it will be one of these two sides that will then stand between Spain and a place in the quarter finals. Brazil or France will only meet them in an hypothetical final.

Time will tell and there are almost certainly going to be any number of shocks, injuries and surprises between now and June 15 when Spain kick off their World Cup campaign as favourite.