Spain have locked in and submitted their final 26-man squad for the World Cup which starts imminently in Qatar.
In the early part of the 2000s, Spain were the dominant force in world football lifting back-to-back European Championship and World Cup titles, but Luis Enrique’s men have been a bit of an enigma. They are still the tiki-taki masters, but with some rougher edges.
Four years ago, they were bundled out at the Round of 16 stage by Russia via a penalty shoot-out, but how will they fare this time?
More intriguingly, who will be the team’s top scorer at the latest edition of the World Cup? We have pinpointed a few contenders, and outlined their odds, which are supplied by Paddy Power.
Alvaro Morata – 2/1
Arguably a much more mature player since he left Chelsea, Alvaro Morata is the main talisman and the one that could deliver the goods for Enrique. When on form, Morata can make darting movements, and he doesn’t need too many chances to bury his opportunities.
There have been times, of course, when Morata has fluffed his lines, but with the energy and vibrancy of Pedri and Gavi in midfield, Morata will expect to receive decent service. Morata helped Spain reach the World Cup Finals in Qatar, and he will have to make a meaty contribution if Spain is going to go deep.
Ferran Torres – 3/1
He may only have 13 goals to his name for Spain, and trading just behind Morata in the outright market is Ferran Torres. To a certain extent, his performances could dictate how far Spain progresses.
There are few very natural goalscorers in the Spain squad, but that is offset by an abundance of technical brilliance. Torres perhaps falls into the latter category, and he has a chance to make a name for himself.
Pablo Sarabia – 5/1
A midfielder by trade, Pablo Sarabia who has been on loan at Sporting Lisbon from Paris Saint-Germain this season, has yet to hit the back of the net. Perhaps, he may hit the target against Japan or Costa Rica, but Germany will be a different proposition.
At 5/1, there is some value in Sarabia, who is very versatile and he has shown he can adapt to any given situation. He can also play as a false-nine, and he can pick up some good positions in the park.
Ansu Fati – 12/1
Perhaps the wild card in this list, Ansu Fati is one of the brightest talents in the game. While injury disrupted his development at Barcelona, the 20-year-old is a great box-to-box player who can do a lot of damage and link up play well.
However, it is a case of whether Enrique decides to start him. While he is a tempting price, he may not get as much game time as he would like.
Spain Top Goalscorer Prediction
While Spain may not boast the sort of firepower that the likes of Brazil and Argentina boast, they shouldn’t be underestimated. Although Morata is trading at a short price, he is arguably the most threatening.
At times, he has been made a scapegoat in the past, but he is capable of producing some magical moments, and he could well end up as Spain’s top goalscorer in Qatar.
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