If anyone can be called the star of the Spanish squad, it is certainly Andres Iniesta, the attacking midfielder who scored the long-overdue goal against Netherlands and brought the trophy home in the 2010 World Cup. He’s arguably one of Spain’s best players and is responsible for maintaining ball possession within the Spaniards. His skills with ball acquisition coupled with the goals he has scored for club Barcelona as well as the Spanish team has ensured his promotion from defending midfielder to the attacking position.
The Spanish team does have an abundance of midfielders and are sorely lacking in strikers. It is not possible for one player in football to compensate for the lack in another position, seeing as the game is extremely team-oriented. However, Iniesta plays with cool confidence and is able to pass through the tightest of spots, a skill necessary to play within the Spanish tiki-taka strategy.
Although officially, he is given the position of midfielder and plays the part to perfection, Iniesta displays versatility on the field and is able to defend as well as he attacks. He’s able to quickly ascertain which player to pass the ball to, as well as move the ball back and forth without allowing the opponent to get the ball instead. He has the sense to take risks and pass the ball through tight spots but is not foolhardy enough to take risks that endanger the team’s possession.
Their bleak performance against Netherlands in their opener can be attributed to a plethora of reasons, starting with the old tiki-taka strategy that many teams are now able to break through. Iniesta still played with grace during the game, and with enough cooperation from Diego Costa, the team’s only prominent forward along with the usual display of keeping from Casillas, Iniesta will be able to manipulate the game in Spain’s favour and hopefully emerge victorious in their match against Chile.
Iniesta’s skills on the pitch are a delight to watch. He becomes the playmaker for many a crucial game for his club. If the team decides to work with a different strategy focused on a pointed attack combined with a strong defence, it is very possible that Iniesta will shine through and contribute to Spain as well as Barcelona wining many a tournament.
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