Real Madrid's Isco Can Help to Fix Spain's Stale Midfield

Between the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup, it became clear that Spain's midfield under Vicente del Bosque was quickly approaching a point of transition. 

Though still led by the glittering triumvirate of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso, La Roja were gradually slowing down, exhibiting small vulnerabilities after a reign of supreme dominance. 

Interestingly, Del Bosque appeared to acknowledge the impending evolution of his side in July last year—Spain had just slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the final of the World Cup prelude—identifying Real Madrid's Isco as the next leader of the orchestra. 

"We have a lot of hope pinned to Isco, he is the future of the national team," the Spain boss told Radio Nacional de Espana, per ESPN FC. 

But as the Spaniards staggered to a 2-1 defeat to Slovakia on Thursday, the 22-year-old spoken of so highly by Del Bosque was still absent, left to reside in the nation's under-21 squad. 

Isco, one felt, could have made a significant difference for La Roja in Zilina. 

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Though selected for the squad that faced Macedonia in the previous round, the Real Madrid starlet made way for Iniesta's return as Del Bosque reverted to the sort of midfield that had carried his side for so long.

The Barcelona maestro started as a narrow forward. David Silva did the same on the opposite side. Behind them, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas and Koke rounded out the manager's brigade of technicians.

Yet it's Del Bosque's unwavering faith in his established stars, the uniformity of his exalted midfield, that's rapidly becoming a weakness for the Spanish. There's no end product to the artistry. There's a ruthless streak that's clearly absent. The orchestra still plays, but they've only got one song. 

Spain, it seems, have become engulfed in a sense of monotony. Isco, a midfielder of a contrasting tempo, can break the tedium.  

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Those who've watched the young Spaniard at the Bernabeu this season will recognise his point of difference to those currently in use by Spain under Del Bosque.

A noticeable sharpness is inherent in Isco's game. He skips past defenders. He works tirelessly off the ball. Driving forward is his first inclination. When Real Madrid were stuck in second gear against Ludogorets, it was Isco who livened the pace. 

Of course, such qualities aren't as readily needed at Real Madrid. No team on the planet can harness a strike force as devastating as the one in the Spanish capital. Isco, therefore, continues to be on the periphery, despite the obvious appreciation for his talent inside the Bernabeu. 

"I'm working to have more minutes, but in a team like Real Madrid, it's not easy," the midfielder said this week, per Jen Evelyn of Inside Spanish Football. "I've tried to do well in the minutes I've got."

Yet Spain and Real Madrid are two very different propositions. There's scarcely a similarity between La Roja and Los Blancos.  

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Del Bosque now desperately needs a central component of Isco's rhythm, with the steady-paced nature of his midfield standing as the nation's most obvious issue.

While the likes of Iniesta, Silva and Fabregas still hold significant value, they need to be complemented by other qualities. Stubbornly continuing down the current path will only end in the loss of Spain's European crown. 

"The national team will always be required to win as much as it has in the recent years. There are players that have given everything to Spanish football and we must count on them," Isco said respectfully of those still ahead of him. 

Yet the reality is that the players he speaks of can no longer do it on their own. The vibrancy and bubbling enthusiasm has been sucked out of La Roja, giving them the look of a machine that still ticks over but does so without a purpose.

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

Certainly, it's possible that Del Bosque harbours concerns regarding the shortage of playing time Isco currently enjoys at club level. He's perhaps viewed as an unpredictable quantity for the manager. 

However, it's predictability that is exactly the issue for Spain. Minor differences there may be, but the quintet currently conducting the Spanish midfield all essentially do the same thing. Isco, through his faster tempo, can alter that dynamic. 

Already he's been described as the future of Real Madrid by Carlo Ancelotti. Del Bosque has expressed the same in relation to Spain.

One senses that future, the one La Roja's boss referred to more than a year ago, is now.