During last week’s final round of European Championship qualifiers, Scotland failed in their endeavours to grasp a play-off place. First impressions of this statement are one of a nonplussed nature; “nothing new there”.
But when you consider they were up against Spain, the reigning victors of said-tournament, as well as the current owners of the ‘World Champions’ title, and that they were playing in the backyard of the Iberian giants, the Scots can be proud of their performance, both team and individual, despite succumbing to a 3-1 defeat.
Craig Levein’s charges fought valiantly against the machine that is La Furia Roja but, similarly to the many other teams who have fallen foul of these Spanish conquistadors, they could not find a way past the slick Spaniards, the well-drilled teamwork and the perpetual pass-and-move that consistently gazumps contenders. It was a young left back though, making his debut, who really epitomised this tactical shock-and-awe approach, providing the assist for Spain’s first goal after just six minutes.
Jordi Alba, 22, is entering his third season as Valencia’s first-choice left back and one of their most consistent performers. Equally capable of playing on the left wing of midfield, the man from Catalan was, like most of Spain’s starlets, a product of Barcelona’s infamous youth production conveyer belt. However, he was released from the safe hold of the La Masia farmhouse, to then find himself at the more obscure UE Cornelià, a team playing some three divisions below La Liga.
But, unlike many youth players released by their first clubs, he was fortunate to be offered a route back into the big time by Valencia at the end of the 2006-07 season. A loan spell at Gimnastic followed, before he eventually made his La Liga debut for Los Ches in September 2009. Initially deployed by Valencia coach Unai Emery as cover during an injury crisis, Alba seized upon the opportunity to cement his gifted left foot in the starting line-up at the Mestalla. The ensuing performances, coupled with last week’s virtuoso international appearance, have even led to speculation a return to the Nou Camp could be imminent.
However, there is another, more experienced left-back who may feel slightly disgruntled by this sudden ascension. José Enrique, of Liverpool, has been delivering top-class, noteworthy performances in the Premier League not just this season, but ever since he arrived at Newcastle in 2007. Transferring to Merseyside during the summer – for a bargain price of £5 million – the man who, ironically, hails from Valencia has been ever-present as Kenny Dalglish continues to lead a new era of evolution at Anfield.
This poses a problem to Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque: does he stick with the prodigious talent, who has so far experienced a ‘lucky’ career, or does he instead go with the seasoned-pro? At 25, Enrique is three years the senior of Alba and entering the peak of his career; but if Alba can retain his place in the Valencia starting XI, there is no reason why he cannot stake a claim as Spain’s first choice left-back. In addition, Valencia, placed in Chelsea’s group, are undefeated in their Champions League campaign thus far, with Alba delivering a sterling performance as the west Londoners were recently held to a 1-1 draw. With Liverpool not involved in any continetal competitions, the European factor is a trump card for Alba. He does, however, need to avoid the play-acting, the dark under-belly of Spanish football that is quickly becoming synonymous with their players, which led to a booking for James Morrison.
But Enrique, equally, will keep plugging away. The loquacious Joey Barton has, despite having been involved in an on-pitch spat with the Spaniard, previously praised his former team-mate for his staunch professionalism, with the press also remarking that the Spaniard is known as one of the game’s “nice” guys. It is just unfortunate that, as soon as the level of his performances have come to the fore, the precocious Jordi Alba is delivering on a similar level, just on the lucrative Champions League stage as well.
Whilst del Bosque may be faced with a dilemma, the undoubted winner is the Spanish national team who continually have the luxury of having a plethora of options from which to bolster their all-conquering team.
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