Issues Spain Coach Vicente Del Bosque Must Consider for World Cup Qualifiers

Spain have two home matches against Group I's two bottom sides to secure their expected passage to Brazil for next summer's World Cup.

Belarus are first up at Mallorca's Estadio Son Moix on Friday night, ahead of La Roja returning to mainland Spain for the visit of Georgia at Albacete's Carlos Belmonte on Tuesday. 

But while the fixtures represent what should be six points for the current World and European champions, Vicente del Bosque does still have issues which need resolving if Spain are to eventually avenge their Confederations Cup final defeat next year.

The first issue which arises when del Bosque files his team sheet is actually a non-issue as far as the Spain coach is concerned.

Iker Casillas continues to play second fiddle to Diego Lopez at Real Madrid and Victor Valdes is in fine form for Barcelona, but it's the Madrid 'keeper who remains La Roja's No. 1.

Alongside his 150 international caps he can count on the full support of his manager judging by del Bosque's comments to AS in September, via goal.com:

"Casillas will always have me by his side. He's the captain of the side and an important part of our team."

Next up on the agenda will be the Twitter exchange between Gerard Pique and Alvaro Arbeloa after Real Madrid's controversial late penalty against Elche last month.

Spanish press have speculated it could flare up the Clasico divide within the Seleccion, but, speaking on television program Tiki-Taka, del Bosque was quick to brush it off as a non-issue as well, via Marca:

"

It's nothing; they are mature people and there's no malice. They use Twitter to be sarcastic and sympathetic. There's no problem. In any case, we all get on better with some people than we do with others.

"

Considering the last five years have seen the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona increase in intensity, while Spain have remained successful on the pitch, a couple of comedic tweets between two of the side's back four are unlikely to cause an earthquake.

Into midfield, and the conundrum is more simple—particularly considering Xabi Alonso's absence. Stick with Barcelona.

Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas work with each other every day, and it's unlikely that del Bosque will want to sway from the Blaugrana connection too much.

However the consistency and continued brilliance of Koke at Atletico Madrid—a side with a growing allocation of players in the Spain setup—certainly provides food for thought, particularly with the post-Xavi era approaching.

Eurosport, via the use of Squawka's stats, certainly make an impressive case for the 21-year-old to be involved.

So far his career has, relatively speaking, slipped under the radar, but there's a growing interest in the Atleti midfielder, and it won't be long, if he continues to progress as he has done since Diego Simeone took charge, until del Bosque has no choice but to create room for him.

Which brings us round to the archetypal issue which hangs over La Roja: who plays as the No. 9?

It's been reported in The Mirror that Atletico's Pichichi leading striker Diego Costa is prepared to ditch Brazil for Spain ahead of next summer's World Cup.

Few could argue that his rough-and-tumble nature, aggression and ability to wind up the opposition just might be necessary evils which could benefit the Spain side.

He's not in the squad for Belarus and Georgia though, but Swansea's Michu is. At last.

And with none of David Villa, Fernando Torres, Roberto Soldado or Fernando Llorente in the squad for various reasons, the former Real Oviedo man only faces direct competition for a starting spot from Manchester City's Alvaro Negredo.

Of course the false nine option, which would likely feature Cesc Fabregas, is also an option.

Long term, Diego Costa may well prove the answer, but the worrying thing for del Bosque ahead of next summer's World Cup is that this question has been posed for far too long now.

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