The Spanish team returns home once again with a poor background in a World Cup, after losing in the round of 16 on penalties against Morocco. Since they won their only World Cup in 2010, with that goal by Andrés Iniesta in the Johannesburg final against the Netherlands (1-0), Spain has only been able to win three of the eleven games played in the three championships (Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022). A sad way to defend the star that shines on the shield.
In South Africa 2010, the Spanish team, led by Vicente del Bosque, signed its best ever performance in a World Cup with six victories, despite the initial defeat against Switzerland (0-1). After losing to the Swiss, they went on to win against Honduras and Chile to move on to the round of 16, against Portugal, Paraguay, Germany and finally the Netherlands.
Four years later, still with Del Bosque on the bench, the red arrived in Brazil having qualified as the undefeated leader of their group (in which France was). In the final phase, however, she succumbed resoundingly: the Netherlands endorsed her 5-1 in the opening game and Chile nailed her 2-0 to eliminate her in the second game. In the third, against Australia, the 3-0 win was of no use to him.
In Russia 2018, already with Fernando Hierro on the bench (as an emergency replacement for the dismissed Julen Lopetegui, who had signed for Real Madrid), Spain made water again, although this time it reached the round of 16. The team had also qualified first in the group (ahead of Italy), but when they landed in Russia they shrank: draws against Portugal (3-3) and Morocco (2-2), and a single victory, against Iran (1-0, with a goal from Diego Costa). They went to the round of 16 as first in the group, faced Russia in the round of 16 and fell in a penalty shootout (Koke and Aspas missed) after the 1-1 final.
And now in Qatar, another very discreet role, despite its promising start with the 7-0 win over Costa Rica, Spain's biggest win in a World Cup. It was followed by a draw with Germany (1-1) and a blushing defeat against Japan (2-1), which made them second in the group. In the round of 16, the usual setback against Morocco in the most humiliating penalty shootout (3-0) they have experienced, after the 0-0 match.
The balance of these three world championships: 11 games played, only three victories, against rivals of such minor importance as Australia, Iran and Costa Rica. At the moment of truth, the red failed and returned to the endemic altitude sickness before South Africa 2010.
