Spain turning attention to Brazil in bid to make history

The former Arsenal star was most pointed in the rejection of Spain being a boring side immediately after their four-goal Euro 2012 hammering of Italy in Kiev.

It certainly seems harsh to pick holes in a team that has just become the first to win three major international tournaments on the trot – a World Cup sandwiched between two European Championship titles.

The manner of their performance in the Olympic Stadium, and the players responsible for it, does not offer much hope of any change.

Midfielder Xavi is the elder statesman of the outfield contingent but, at 32, he still has plenty of miles in the tank. Captain Iker Casillas is 31 but in an era when goalkeepers often play at the highest level until they are approaching 40, that is hardly a problem either.

So, if a weakness is to be exploited by the teams eager to claim the World Cup from Spain’s grasp at Brazil 2014, it may be mental, as players who have won everything try to keep themselves motivated.

But Fabregas has got some bad news for Spain’s rivals. La Roja are not finished yet.

“Everyone thought we would be finished after we won the Euros and the World Cup,” said Fabregas. “They thought we might ease off a bit but here we are again. No one has done the triple before and we are very proud of it. We are lucky to have had a lot of good experiences at a young age.

“Hopefully, that and the success we are having now means we will be stronger for those experiences when we’re older.”

Fabregas made a significant contribution to Spain’s success, just not in the way he would have imagined.

An orthodox midfield player at Arsenal, in Poland and Ukraine coach Vicente del Bosque discovered a new role for the 25-year-old. In a team without a striker, Fabregas was the one asked to become a ‘false nine’.

It is hard to imagine England’s Roy Hodgson going down that route.

After spending eight years at Arsenal, however, Fabregas is in a pretty good position to assess the strengths of a squad drawn entirely from the Premier League.

And he does have some words of comfort, even if he felt Hodgson’s side could be more adventurous.

“Maybe they were a little too defensive instead of going for games a little bit more and ended up being a bit too protective at the back,” he said.

“But England have the players to beat anyone. I like the way they play and they were unlucky to lose on penalties against Italy.”

Former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso is certain Spain changed a few minds with the manner of their stunning final triumph after they had been branded as boring in some quarters.

“We heard the criticism and we saw what was written. That happens. Now they will have a different opinion,” said Alonso, 30.

The feeling persists that Spain have the capability of improving and rivalling the Brazil team of 1970 as what is generally regarded as the best side of all time.

In Brazil, two years from now, Spain could create more history by becoming the first European team to win the World Cup in South America.

“We don’t feel we have an obligation to keep winning trophies but we also knew what was expected of us,” said the Real Madrid man. “Maybe four years ago we enjoyed it more because it was the first time. Now it will take time for it to sink in. But it does not feel like the end of anything.”