Whether it is a drunk conversation with a taxi driver on the way home from a night out, or small talk with your boss across the coffee table, the World Cup is on the tip of every sports fan's tongue at the moment.
The lead-up to this most prestigious of all soccer tournaments is always filled with much discussion, anticipation, and scandal. And as an avid football fan myself, I'm going to go ahead and say that I love it all.
Within all the debate and banter, one question usually takes center stage. When asked this question recently by one of my friends, and many more times subsequently, my answer was as follows: "I think Spain will be very hard to beat. From what I can see, they are going to bring the best squad ever assembled to South Africa."
Almost everyone with whom I have shared this opinion has neglected to agree with me.
On a day when Iker Casillas celebrated his 29th birthday, the Spanish squad for this year's World Cup was announced. By the way, right there, I have provided you with the one, and only, fact in this article. I feel that quite aptly fulfills my journalistic duties.
When I looked at the names of the 23-man roster finally written down, it only served to strengthen my much maligned opinion. It really is an unbelievable squad of players, brimming with an incredible amount of quality.
In Xavi Hernadez, Andres Iniesta, and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas, they have three of the most gifted midfielders of not only this competition, but of this generation. For an opposing team, it must be rather deflating to know that, almost literally, these guys will never misplace a pass, would appear to have glue on their boots in terms of ball control, and have 20/20 peripheral vision. I could write an article on each one of them.
I won't, though; I'm far too lazy to do that.
They certainly do not relent in attack either. With David Villa and Fernando Torres leading the line, they have two of the most feared and prolific strikers in Europe. Again, I could wax lyrical about the merits of these two players, but if you are reading this rubbish, you will already know what they are.
They are also a lot better looking, and have much better hair than Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney. And for me, that counts for a lot.
But leaving the Spanish team's obvious world class talent, it is in fact the players that may not be featured that makes this side even more amazing. Potentially, the Spanish bench, for a given game, could consist of Reina, Pedro, Busquets, Jesus Navas, Alonso, Pique, and Raul Albiol. All of whom play an important role for massive European clubs.
And that's not even mentioning the likes of Mata and Javi Martinez, who have both had impressive seasons at their respective clubs.
It's even more frightening when you consider that England may have to call upon the talents of Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Emile Heskey.
Before I go any further though, is it kosher to describe Sevilla as a massive club? Maybe that could be the premise of a separate article. With a separate writer, obviously. I've mentioned my penchant for laziness already, right?
Either way, it is an impressive list of players to be able to call upon. In a tournament that spans a month, and with the possibility of seven competitive international matches, the depth of squad may very well play an important factor in how a team fares.
Because I wanted to wash my hair this evening, and because it is the one area where my argument could fall down, I wasn't going to mention the elephant in the room. I know it's a little unfair to describe the Carlos Puyol in such terms, but I've said it now, and I definitely don't have time to go back and delete anything from this.
I like to condition, and then re-condition, my hair, you see. Quite simply, that takes time. Worth it? You bet.
But I will touch upon the defense. The fact is, it really isn't all that bad. To break it down: two of the best goalkeepers in the world, four competent centre-halves, a swashbuckling pirate at right-back, and Capdevilla or Arbeloa on the left. As you should detect, I have no opinion on the latter two players.
It is though, in my opinion, no worse than any of the other defenses in the competition.
I don't claim to be an expert on football. That fact aside, I don't think there is another squad that comes close to matching the strength in depth of Spain. Moreover, I can't think of there ever being another squad in international play that could match up to this current crop of Spaniards.
However, we are all on this Web site for debate, and I am also here to learn. So if anyone can point me in the direction of an example of a more gifted ensemble of players, then be my guest.
I will happily disregard your suggestions.
