Predicting Spain's Starting XI at the 2014 World Cup

As Spain prepare for this summer's Confederations Cup, manager Vicente Del Bosque will already have one eye on World Cup 2014. 

In just over 12 months time, the Spanish national team will aim to become the first in history to win back-to-back World Cups and European Championships.

It would be quite the feat, and it is perhaps that chance to etch themselves into history that will drive Del Bosque's troops throughout their campaign in Brazil.

As we look ahead to the tournament, what of the playing staff?

Is Del Bosque likely to go for youth, players on current form or stick with his tried and tested generals?

Let's take a look at who might be in line to start that first game...

Iker Casillas

Without question, Iker Casillas will be the first name on the team sheet unless he has the unfortunate luck to be injured around the time of the tournament.

Capped 143 times for his country, Casillas is a certainty to add to that tally. 

He will certainly be hoping to be reinstated by Real Madrid's new incoming manager as quickly as possible, despite the stellar form of his replacement Diego Lopez.

You can be assured that Casillas will be pushed hard for the jersey by Victor Valdes. Barcelona's number one seems destined for a move to French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco and, Valdes will hope for a flying start to his career in France to silence the doubters.

Liverpool's Pepe Reina should again make up the goalkeeping trio and give Del Bosque a wealth of options if required.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Although Vicente Del Bosque's team selections are often conservative—with little room for surprises—Cesar Azpilicueta's form at Chelsea this season deserves closer scrutiny.

Many pundits and commentators will expect Real Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa to slot in on the right side of defence, but it's fair to say that he's enjoyed far from his best form throughout the current campaign.

By contrast, Azpilicueta has been a revelation in the position.

Given his chance once Branislav Ivanovic was pushed inside to cover the central defensive position, the Spaniard has shown some of his best form. Never better than when he man-marked Gareth Bale out of the match against Tottenham Hotspur as recently as May 8, 2013.

Despite not being a household name, another steady season from the player signed from Osasuna will see him realise his potential at the national level.

Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique is a lucky man indeed.

Lucky because Spain don't have an embarrassing wealth of riches in the central defensive areas.

If they did, then Pique's position is surely one that Vicente Del Bosque would be viewing with interest.

More than ever this season, Pique's weaknesses have been exposed at club level with Barcelona.

His concentration levels have been non existent at times, and he is one player that will certainly need to up his game in the next 12 months to ensure a starting berth in Brazil.

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos—as Casillas—is another of those names that will be first down on the team sheet.

His club performances are of a consistently high level and, despite falling well behind Barcelona in the chase for La Liga, Ramos is one of the few Real Madrid players that can hold their head high despite a disappointing campaign.

Although Ramos has been used in the right back position for Spain, to allow Carles Puyol to continue his club pairing with Pique at international level, expect Ramos to shift inside on a permanent basis as the ravages of time catch up with Puyol.

At just 27 years of age, Ramos has recently become the youngest international player in history to rack up 100 caps for their national side.

It is that sort of consistency, quality and high level of performance which ensures Ramos' place in the starting eleven. 

Jordi Alba

With only Nacho Monreal to realistically challenge him for the left back berth, it's a safe bet—injury permitting—that Jordi Alba will be handed the jersey at the beginning of World Cup 2014 proceedings.

His first year at Barcelona has been an unqualified success and, as Alba has shown time and again, his pace affords the team an attacking threat as much as a defensive presence.

If there is one footnote to his play, it is that he needs to learn when to curb that attacking thrust in deference to his defensive duties.

Despite a slight frame, the player is hard to shake off of the ball once in possession and, in many respects, he is the essence of the modern day wing back.

Alba's goal in the 2012 European Championship Final vs. Italy is emblematic of the style of football we can expect from the youngster.

Javi Martinez

Should Javi Martinez continue the solid form he has displayed all season for an all-conquering Bayern Munich team, then he should get the nod over the aging Xabi Alonso.

Manager Del Bosque has already described Martinez as "the complete player" and compared him to Patrick Vieira.

Whilst there can be no suggestion that Alonso himself has enjoyed anything other than a great personal season once again at club level, the fact is that Martinez is a full seven years younger, and Del Bosque must start to look towards the future of the national team.

Indeed, it has been Martinez that has taken Alonso's place in the national side recently, substituting him on a couple of occasions.

With incoming Bayern manager Pep Guardiola also a confirmed admirer, the next 12 months look to be exciting times for Javi Martinez. 

Sergio Busquets

Sergio Busquets is the complete defensive midfielder.

A virtual unknown when drafted into Barcelona's team in 2008, there is no finer defensive midfielder in world football today.

Apart from 30 minutes, Busquets played the entirety of Spain's 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa. 

Another player much admired by Del Bosque, the manager has been quoted in the past as saying:

"

"If I were a player I'd like to be Busquets."

"

Xavi Hernandez is another to laud the presence of his fellow midfielder (per Fox Sports):

"

"Without Busquets we could never had achieved what we have achieved." 

"He is an extraordinary player who is never wrong."

"

Alongside the ever-improving Martinez, Sergio Busquets will provide Spain with a brick wall that opposing teams will find hard to break down.

Xavi Hernandez

How does one even begin to sum up the importance of Xavi Hernadez i Creus to the Spanish national team?

There simply isn't a better passer of the ball anywhere in the world, and World Cup 2014 could well be Xavi's swansong. 

He will be 34 at the time of the tournament and, as his tired performances against Bayern Munich showed us, the ravages of time are beginning to catch up with the player.

Over the course of the next year, Barcelona would do well to use him more sparingly. 

His body is just not equipped to cope with the demands of 60+ games a season any longer. With the Confederations Cup this summer not affording him any down time this close season, Spain and Barcelona must use Xavi wisely if they want a fully functioning Xavi at the business end of next season.

What better way to sign off on a wonderful international career than at the very top.

Cesc Fabregas will no doubt be breathing down the neck of his compatriot for club and country, but Xavi's superior all-round play gets him the nod.

Andres Iniesta

Playing in a slightly more forward role than he is used to at Barcelona, Andres Iniesta is likely to be deployed in a wide left attacking position—much the same as the 2012 European Championship Final.

The man who won the first World Cup for his country in 2010 is still producing top-level performances week-in and week-out and is a certain starter next summer.

His quality on the ball, deft touch and sparkling inter-play lift his level above that of fellow squad members David Silva, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla—all of whom could produce a reasonable resume for inclusion in the position.

The attacking berth suits Iniesta, whose forward prompting and attacking bursts are critical to the incisive play we have come to expect from the all-conquering Spaniards.

His in-game intelligence is peerless. Expect to see him popping up in match-winning positions throughout the tournament.

Isco

Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez—"Isco"—is a future star of the Spanish national team.

Despite only making his debut for the senior team in February, the player has shown—through his outstanding contributions in the Champions League for Malaga—that he is more than ready to mix it with the big boys.

That he is being talked about by Jamie Jackson of The Guardian as a new signing for either Real Madrid or Manchester City tells you in what esteem he is held by the football fraternity.

Isco is a player that excites and a player who delivers. He is the beacon that has shone the brightest in his Malaga side this season.

His pace and trickery are an outlet down the right hand channels that will perfectly compliment Andres Iniesta on the left side and David Villa's first-class movement at the tip of an attacking trident.

As with the likes of Javi Martinez, Cesar Azpilicueta and Jordi Alba, Vicente Del Bosque must look at what legacy he leaves the national side at the conclusion of proceedings in Brazil.

David Villa

David Villa or Fernando Torres?

This is a crucial 12 months for both players, with both possibly on the way out of their respective clubs.

Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail says Villa is rumoured to be the subject of a £10m bid from Tottenham Hotspur whilst incoming Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho prefers Edison Cavani as the Blues front man.

By virtue of his greater goalscoring exploits at international level and his general form, Villa gets the striking position ahead of Torres.

Although sporadic when given the chance this season, Villa has still shown that he has the eye of the assassin, whereas Torres has once again spectacularly underperformed.