Spain's 2013 Confederations Cup campaign kicked off in suitably stylish fashion, defeating Uruguay 2-1 with an exhibition of passing football. Whilst the ending to the game will have been a little too close for comfort for manager Vincent del Bosque, particular encouragement must have come in Roberto Soldado’s performance.
Soldado has found regular action at international level hard to come by under Del Bosque, who has preferred David Villa and Fernando Torres, as well as previously Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo, despite Soldado hitting at least 25 goals in all competitions each of his last three seasons at club leve.
Sunday's game finally saw the 28-year-old handed an opportunity and respond to prove his worth, finishing off a slick counter-attack with a characteristically calm finish from Cesc Fabregas' reverse pass, to give Spain a 2-0 lead. Aside from the goal, Soldado showed in his performance, and in glimpses in the previous week’s warm-up games against Haiti and the Republic of Ireland, an ability to hold the ball up, to link up play and to make the most of any chances provided.
“A few days ago I was wondering if I would be in the 23 and now look, I’m playing. Being on the same team as these players is a dream that is coming true,” enthused Soldado after his sixth goal for La Seleccion.
“It has taken a long time for me to reach this, and now I will try to take advantage of it.”
“I do not know if I'll ever be a starter [against Tahiti], that is up to the Coach. I do not know if I'll hold the place again, that's a Coach's decision,” said Soldado after Sunday's game, suggestive of the expected wholesale changes Spain will make tonight.
Whilst he is seen as likely to sit out this evening’s second round of Group B fixtures, the difference he made to La Roja’s playing style should not have gone unnoticed by Del Bosque.
Soldado's presence up front offered a focal point of the attack – something which disappears when a ‘False 9’ is utilised – his predatory instincts in front of goal forced the Uruguay defence to sit deeper and subsequently open up space for Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Xavi to dictate play.
Iniesta was particularly influential, controlling the pace of Spain's attacks and dissecting the Uruguay defence at will, whilst the pace and direction of Pedro Rodriguez also offered a welcome alternative to the likes of David Silva. Silva, a fantastic and skilful player in his own right, doesn't have the pace down the flank to threaten full-backs, which is something that makes Pedro a worthy outlet for this Spain side.
Spain's attack displayed an encouraging fluidity in the first half, even as they appeared to take their foot off the gas in the second – which almost cost them the game, as Luis Suarez's late free-kick gave Uruguay a chance of rescuing a point.
With former star strikers Torres and Villa either struggling for consistency or game time, it appears that the goalscoring burden may rest on Soldado's shoulders, particularly with Llorente’s absence this past year and Negredo having not made this summer’s tournament either.
And having witnessed his impressive display against Uruguay, it's fair to say that Soldado has earned his anticipated run in the side.
