Spain Euro 12: Players Who Must Step Up to Replace Injured Stars

If Spain wants to live up to its billing at Euro 2012 as a favorite, they will need to have players step up for their injured superstars.

As in any sport, depth is important to success. With some of Spain's best players unable to play at the Euro, their depth will truly be tested. Here are the players that must step up if the Spaniards want to win the title.

Sergio Ramos

Spain will sorely miss star defender Carles Puyol thanks to a knee injury. Replacing Puyol won't be easy but it will be pivotal for the Spanish defense to find consistency from Puyol's center position. Their best bet to find that consistency will be from Ramos, who will need to switch to center from his usual right back position.

Ramos is more than capable of taking over in center but developing a chemistry with Gerard Pique in the middle will be pivotal as the two don't have much experience playing side-by-side. With injuries possibly slowing down Spain's goal-scoring ability, the defense will need to step up and Ramos must play like a star.

Xavi Hernandez

On the offensive side of things, Spain will miss the prolific goal scoring of David Villa. Villa is one of Spain's greatest all-time players when it comes to international play.

Replacing a player who is the country's all-time leading goal scorer, the top scorer in Euro 2008 and the winner of the silver boot in the World Cup 2010 is never easy and it certainly can't be done by one man. That being said, Xavi will be the most important player to the Spanish attack.

Xavi may not lead the team in goals but it will be important for him to lead the team and key the team's ball movement. Spreading the wealth and getting the Spanish forwards scoring opportunities becomes all the more important without Villa and Hernandez will need to do just that.

Fernando Llorente

Hernandez can facilitate and distribute all he wants, but if the forwards are unable to put the ball in the net it won't matter. That's where Llorente comes in.

While Villa's production can't be replaced by one man, someone will need to lead the team in goals and Llorente should be a prime candidate. Taking over as the center forward, Llorente will have plenty of opportunities to score and will need to convert if the Spanish attack is to be successful.

Llorente is coming off of a club season in which he scored 17 goals in 32 appearances so we know that he has the ability to score and he will need to shoulder the scoring load for Spain if they want to make a successful run in 2012.