On Wednesday evening Spain took on Italy in an international friendly and a repeat of the Euro 2012 final. It was fitting that prior to the kick off there was a moving tribute to the late Luis Aragones, a man to whom they owe so much to and who started Spain's international dominance after a history of falling short.
Aragones finally managed to get the best out of the talented squad available to the national team and they haven't looked back since. The friendly against Italy gave offered a chance to have a look at how they were shaping up ahead of the campaign to win their fourth consecutive title at international level.
From that Euro 2008 campaign to this day it’s hard to see much change in the side. Players such as Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila and Marcos Senna have gone but the side has evolved accordingly and such is the depth in talent in Spain they've been more than adequately replaced.
There is certainly no other side in the world that has such a deep pool of players from which to choose. The likes of Juan Mata, Isco, David De Gea, Gerard Pique, Alvaro Arbeloa and David Villa were not even selected in the squad for last night’s game. In that sense no one can rival Spain.
In fact, they've added to their ranks with the presence of Diego Costa. The powerful striker isn't the most popular man in Spain but there is no doubt he is a world class talent. Costa may not fit the stereotype for a Spain player as he is big and powerful but that can only help and give Spain another dimension.
With a so-called striker problem hanging around since Fernando Torres and Villa's apparent loss of form, this could prove the solution. Should the Costa experiment fail there is always the false number nine formation employed at Euro 2012. But whatever way Spain play, no one seems to have the answer.
So with Brazil 2014 approaching is anything different? Arguably, Spain are even better now than two years ago, when they won Euro 2012. What could have highlighted as a weak spot in the side at right-back in Arbeloa is stronger. Cesar Azpilicueta is now playing regularly at Chelsea at the highest level and putting in top performances too.
As questions are asked as to how long Xavi Hernandez can go on, questions over who can take over rise in kind but the conveyer belt of talent keeps producing. Thiago Alcantara, like Azpilicueta, is now playing regularly at the top level and looks a perfect option should Xavi need to be replaced.
In attack Spain have the in-form duo of Alvaro Negredo and Costa to choose from, should they even want a striker.
Players on the fringe of the side have all improved too. Raul Albiol, Javi Martinez, Koke, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas and Negredo have all improved since 2012 and are playing regularly at the highest level, giving Vicente Del Bosque even more selection problems than he already faced.
Spain's style of play will serve them well in Brazil too. In the hot, humid conditions, keeping the ball will be crucial and there is no better team at doing that than Spain. Opponents chasing the ball will be worn down, so do you sit back and let Spain attack? It’s been six years and no one has come up with the answer. It will take something special to beat this Spain side in the summer.
