Spain Euro 2012: Breaking Down Biggest Obstacles in La Roja's Quest for Title

Spain enters the Euro 2012 as one of the heavy favorites to win the event. They were victorious in this tournament four years ago, are the No. 1 ranked squad in the world and have been building momentum in the months leading up to this moment. 

However, just because you are the favorite doesn't guarantee you anything. Sports have a way of humbling even the best squads and players in the biggest events. It is what draws us to these matches time and time again. 

While we could talk about why Spain will win Euro 2012, we wanted to look at some of the biggest obstacles standing in their way way, as we are one day away from the start of group play. 

Injuries to Key Players

Spain's roster is loaded with talent, so if anyone can afford an injury and still succeed, it would be this squad. But losing a defender like Carles Puyol, who is still recovering from knee surgery earlier this year, is going to change some things the squad does. 

Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos are better overall players at this stage of their careers, but you can't underestimate what Puyol's presence did for this squad. 

That energy and passion he brought to Spain when he was on the field had a way of rubbing off on everyone around him. 

Striker David Villa is also out of this event with a broken shinbone. Again, he is a player who gets the most out of everyone around him, and he is a critical part of what Spain wants to do on the offensive side of the ball. 

Group Draw

While Group B is considered the "Group of Death," Group C is not exactly a cakewalk. You have Spain at the top, but Italy, Croatia and Ireland are all capable of pulling off the upset. 

Italy, specifically, is the biggest threat to Spain. They are trying to repair their image in this event, so there is added motivation for them to get take control of this group right away. 

I would expect Spain to at least make it out of Group C, if not sweep its way through, but don't be shocked if an upset occurs along the way. 

Close Competition

In keeping with the theme of the previous obstacle, the Euro field is loaded with talent, and everyone is so closely matched up that it would not be a shock to see any of seven different squads walk away with the championship. 

Spain has earned its reputation as the best squad in the world right now, but it is not as formidable as it used to be. 

Things will be very interesting for this event, and Spain has a lot of work to do if it wants to win its second consecutive Euro title. 

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