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Spanish Inquisition: Spain Must Look Forward, Not Backward, In Raul Case
Ewan Macdonald argues that the resumption of the drive to see Raul called up for Spain needs re-examination...
18-Mar-2009 4:12:50 PM
Spain have the most potent international strikeforce in football. Between the two of them, David Villa, perhaps the world's best forward, and predatory Premier League star Fernando Torres, are the most fearsome duo in the global game - bar none.
Still, in such cases a supporting cast is always needed, too. Fernando Llorente and Dani Guiza have served as the understudies of late, but there remains some debate over exactly who else should get a shot at international glory.
Mainly up-and-comers like Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Negredo lead the list, but there is another candidate, too - and a very familiar one at that. It could only be, of course, Raul.
Competition
Raul has no shortage of followers looking for his return to the national team. Former coach Luis Aragones would not countenance recalling the Real Madrid skipper after what was alleged to have been a bitter battle over his management style, but under new boss Vicente del Bosque - an ex-Madridista himself - a comeback is possible.
But as already stated, there are other forwards in the queue as well. Guiza, last season's Pichichi, isn't exactly knocking them in with regularity at Fenerbahce, but he remains a useful partner forward and an option off the bench; Fernando Llorente offers precocious talent and youthful exuberance; Sergio Garcia's form with Betis has won over many of his critics; and Alvaro Negredo, a striker's striker, is the second-top Spanish goalscorer in the Liga despite his place at struggling Almeria.
Then there's Raul himself. A player of immense natural talent, there is no denying that he can more than hold his own when compared to all of the above - yet there are other factors at play. First of all, it must be remembered that he will not, at least not with anything resembling regularity, be starting games, and Raul is not a man accustomed to coming off the bench. Others, like Guiza, are seasoned impact players at international level; Raul is a captain, and thus a starter. Second, his goalscoring tally this season, while abundantly impressive, is still below that of Negredo, and as such any automatic claims towards his being statistically a favourite must be called into question. Some may respond by saying that his support play and 'second striking' ability more than make up for this; that's undeniably true, but Spain's midfield is an attacking one already, and further instrumental utility isn't necessarily what's required, particularly if David Villa is on the pitch.
In other words, Raul is an option, but that's all: an option among many. Gone are the days when he is anything near an automatic pick, and with several others waiting in the wings for a chance, any call to have him reinstated into the national team must be carried out with caution.
Realism
What is absolutely and completely key, then, is that this discussion takes place without emotion or without calls to the past. Yes, it is impossible to forget that Raul has previously served as his country's captain, and that he is Spain's all-time top goalscorer, but football is fickle, and time moves on. As such any appeals to the past should be put aside.
Worst of all are those calling for some kind of sympathy call-up. If people want to give Raul a "proper send-off", that's admirable, but misguided. It strikes me as unnecessary, and I'm confident that Raul himself, still a going concern as a player, will regard it as wholly patronising. In my view it's best that jamborees such as this are left to legends who are no longer in contention at all - such as Paolo Maldini - for countries who have little to look forward to and much to look back on - like Italy.
This kind of nostalgia is not appropriate for a team like Spain that has so much to build on. It was a remarkably youthful team that won at Euro 2008 and there is little reason why a squad of similar dynamics can't succeed at the World Cup of 2010 and beyond. Raul will be 33 by then, meaning that it would either be his last or (to be generous) his penultimate tournament. Certainly he could serve as an impact player, but so too could some of the younger guys, like Llorente, and they have the added bonus of being available for future tournaments, too. Meanwhile, as 2008 displays without need for further elaboration, Raul's leadership qualities are simply not required in the current Roja camp.
In other words, the idea that Raul is definitely needed is flawed; and so too is the idea that he needs some kind of, if you'll excuse the analogy, toe-curling 'state funeral' for his international career. Rather, if any model is to be followed here it is that of David Beckham, who was subject to the same schmaltzy cries for a "fairytale" comeback but in effect forced his manager's hand by performing well enough to merit one anyway. England, of course, have nowhere near the depth or talent of Spain, and that makes Raul's task in emulating Beckham virtually impossible. Yet it is the task that he must complete if Del Bosque is to seriously countenance a return to the squad for a man who, regardless of what the future holds, is already a Spanish legend.
Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com
Still, in such cases a supporting cast is always needed, too. Fernando Llorente and Dani Guiza have served as the understudies of late, but there remains some debate over exactly who else should get a shot at international glory.
Mainly up-and-comers like Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Negredo lead the list, but there is another candidate, too - and a very familiar one at that. It could only be, of course, Raul.
Competition
Raul has no shortage of followers looking for his return to the national team. Former coach Luis Aragones would not countenance recalling the Real Madrid skipper after what was alleged to have been a bitter battle over his management style, but under new boss Vicente del Bosque - an ex-Madridista himself - a comeback is possible.
But as already stated, there are other forwards in the queue as well. Guiza, last season's Pichichi, isn't exactly knocking them in with regularity at Fenerbahce, but he remains a useful partner forward and an option off the bench; Fernando Llorente offers precocious talent and youthful exuberance; Sergio Garcia's form with Betis has won over many of his critics; and Alvaro Negredo, a striker's striker, is the second-top Spanish goalscorer in the Liga despite his place at struggling Almeria.
Then there's Raul himself. A player of immense natural talent, there is no denying that he can more than hold his own when compared to all of the above - yet there are other factors at play. First of all, it must be remembered that he will not, at least not with anything resembling regularity, be starting games, and Raul is not a man accustomed to coming off the bench. Others, like Guiza, are seasoned impact players at international level; Raul is a captain, and thus a starter. Second, his goalscoring tally this season, while abundantly impressive, is still below that of Negredo, and as such any automatic claims towards his being statistically a favourite must be called into question. Some may respond by saying that his support play and 'second striking' ability more than make up for this; that's undeniably true, but Spain's midfield is an attacking one already, and further instrumental utility isn't necessarily what's required, particularly if David Villa is on the pitch.
In other words, Raul is an option, but that's all: an option among many. Gone are the days when he is anything near an automatic pick, and with several others waiting in the wings for a chance, any call to have him reinstated into the national team must be carried out with caution.
Realism
What is absolutely and completely key, then, is that this discussion takes place without emotion or without calls to the past. Yes, it is impossible to forget that Raul has previously served as his country's captain, and that he is Spain's all-time top goalscorer, but football is fickle, and time moves on. As such any appeals to the past should be put aside.
Worst of all are those calling for some kind of sympathy call-up. If people want to give Raul a "proper send-off", that's admirable, but misguided. It strikes me as unnecessary, and I'm confident that Raul himself, still a going concern as a player, will regard it as wholly patronising. In my view it's best that jamborees such as this are left to legends who are no longer in contention at all - such as Paolo Maldini - for countries who have little to look forward to and much to look back on - like Italy.
This kind of nostalgia is not appropriate for a team like Spain that has so much to build on. It was a remarkably youthful team that won at Euro 2008 and there is little reason why a squad of similar dynamics can't succeed at the World Cup of 2010 and beyond. Raul will be 33 by then, meaning that it would either be his last or (to be generous) his penultimate tournament. Certainly he could serve as an impact player, but so too could some of the younger guys, like Llorente, and they have the added bonus of being available for future tournaments, too. Meanwhile, as 2008 displays without need for further elaboration, Raul's leadership qualities are simply not required in the current Roja camp.
In other words, the idea that Raul is definitely needed is flawed; and so too is the idea that he needs some kind of, if you'll excuse the analogy, toe-curling 'state funeral' for his international career. Rather, if any model is to be followed here it is that of David Beckham, who was subject to the same schmaltzy cries for a "fairytale" comeback but in effect forced his manager's hand by performing well enough to merit one anyway. England, of course, have nowhere near the depth or talent of Spain, and that makes Raul's task in emulating Beckham virtually impossible. Yet it is the task that he must complete if Del Bosque is to seriously countenance a return to the squad for a man who, regardless of what the future holds, is already a Spanish legend.
Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com
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