16 years.
That is how long it has been since Spain last won a World Cup knockout game. And what was that game? It was only the 2010 final, in which they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy for the very first time.
Then came the curse. You know, the curse that seems to have affected the majority of the World Cup winners this century, where in the years after their triumph, they fail to get past either the group stage or last 16.
But after failing to get out of the group stage in 2014, and then suffering heartbreak in the first knockout rounds in 2018 and 2022, Spain have the chance to end their hoodoo.
After all, they are the European champions and one of the favourites, so they should have no problem going far in this tournament, eh?
But hey, you’ve all seen the shocks so far.
Today, Spain take on an Austria side that they should have no problems brushing aside. But football isn’t played on paper; Luis de la Fuente need to take this seriously and get the job done.
So without further ado, shall we get this show on the road?
