Here we go again. Spain - otherwise known as the Atlanta Braves of international soccer - has gone an built up ludicrous expectations again. Suddenly, it looks like, hey, this could be the year. The year. Finally. This could be Spain's big breakthrough, their rise from perennial tease lingering just behind the big boys to legit giant on the scene. Now is their time.
Right? Right? Right?
Maybe. Yeah, they seem stacked, particularly as long as David Villa remains in the starting lineup ahead of the aging Raul. They don't seem to have any glaring weakness. But then, they never really do. Hence the years of disappointment. One thing is for sure, though: If ever they were going to choose a moment to break through at last, now would seem to be it. Ukraine was considered their biggest rival in this weak group, and Tunisia and Saudi Arabia should provide little resistance in upcoming group play. The Spaniards' hand definitely appears to be stacked.
Which means their inevitable demise looms as possibly their most disappointing ever, right?
As for the Ukrainians, they shouldn't panic just yet. The best thing that happened to them today was Tunisia's late, late equalizer against the Saudis, which keeps Ukraine only a point behind in the standings with a seemingly legit shot to beat each. Or so you would think. It's possible Adrii Shevchenko hasn't fully recovered from injury if his quiet performance today is any indication. If that's the case, they could be in trouble.
