Europe
2022.11.28 00:54 GMT+8

Spanish young guns has Capdevila dreaming of World Cup glory ahead of Germany clash

Updated 2022.11.28 00:54 GMT+8
Ken Browne in Spain

As World Cup starts go, it doesn't get much better than winning your first match 7-0.

Spain's storming win over Costa Rica set the tone and now they're in the conversation to win it outright.

By contrast, Germany suffered one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, losing 2-1 to Japan in their opener.

Now these two European titans clash in a match that could decide the outcome of Group E.

Can Spain win the World Cup? "I think so!" says Joan Capdevila.

Spain's sensational start has stoked the excitement back home and many are talking about a repeat of their historic 2010 World Cup win.

CGTN caught up with the former left-back, a key player on that legendary team from 12 years ago, to see if he thinks this 'La Roja' side can bring it home once more.

"I think so, I hope so!" he adds with a laugh.

"They have the talent, they have both youth and experience so why not dream? You never know."

Joan Capdevila played 60 times for Spain./ CFP

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Capdevila is impressed by Spain's young guns like Pedri, Gavi, and Dani Olmo, and with experienced players like Sergio Busquets in the team – the only surviving member from the 2010 winning team – he says the balance is also there.

Winning their first game 7-0 didn't hurt either.

"It's ideal to start with a win because it lifts your confidence," says Capdevila. "We actually lost our first game in 2010 and then beat everyone else but that had never happened before."

Not everyone in Spain is as convinced. Spanish football journalist Fernando Burgos points to Spain's inexperience as a weakness.

"I think there are three great favorites. I'd be surprised if one of Brazil, France or Argentina didn't win it," Burgos says.

"Spain is a really young team and youth and inexperience are often costly, I've seen better Spain teams with more experience than this one fail to get past the quarter-finals.

"But like Luis Enrique says, we can beat any team but we can also lose to any team. It's a lottery."

Spain started their World Cup with a stunning win over Costa Rica. /Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Spain v Germany preview

Germany will present a very different challenge to Spain in their second game.

The loss to Japan means it's do-or-die time for Die Mannschaft. The Germans could be going out in the group stage at their second straight World Cup.

History is not on Germany's side for this clash. They've won just one of their last seven meetings with Spain going back 19 years, and that was a friendly.

Their last competitive win against the Spanish came at Euro 1988.

Whatever happens, this mouth-watering World Cup matchup is guaranteed to be dramatic.

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