Germany vs. Spain FIFA World Cup: Could Spain's Lack of Humility Cost Them?

"Germany will not be pleased that they have to play Spain."

The words of Spanish attacker David Villa after a hard-earnt win over a very spirited Paraguay side.

A Paraguay side, that like Switzerland and Chile, Spain might have been expected to beat rather more comfortably.

Spain have undoubtedly had the easiest route to the semi-final, and they have at no point truly convinced.

Spain entered the tournament with their modern way of playing and the tag of favourite, but have teams found them out? Switzerland's stoic defence held them at bay and the Swiss counter-attack was good enough to snatch a goal.

The Chileans had a goal disallowed and won a penalty, openings were made, because the Spanish centre-backs do not like to deal with pure pace.

Something Germany have in abundance.

There have been little, if any, Spanish humility from their own press, and the players have, in my opinion, bought into the same attitude.

The Barcelona and Real Madrid players are notoriously poor sports when they lose, and taking this attitude of superiority into a World Cup could well be their undoing.

"Germany will not be pleased that they have to play Spain", why? Spain have one in-form striker, Argentina had two and Messi.

Xavi is fawned over as a passing master, and he is undoubtedly skillful, but Bastian Schweinsteiger has outpassed him this tournament.

The German centre-backs are not the quickest, but Carlos Puyol and Gerrard Pique also lack pace, especially Puyol, and are beatable.

The Spanish midfield tend to be drawn in as the players around them start weaving runs, which leaves a gap between midfield and defence, something Germany have specialised in exploiting.

Should the Spanish centre-backs push a high-line forward to counter that, they will find Lukas Podolski and Mesut Oezil hanging off their shoulders waiting to start a race the defenders cannot win.

To be clear, I am not saying that Germany will steam-roller Spain, who are not suffering from the same level of defensive frailties that England and Argentina could be accused of, but I do not think that Spain will have an easy night.

This game could go either way. Both teams have the tournament's form strikers, while both have the luxury of an incredible midfield in the center of their teams.

Germany will go into the game with several hours of research on their opponents and a healthy amount of respect for the conquerers of many of their forerunners at the European level.

If Spain go in expecting a win, they will suffer.

If Spain go in a little more humble, expecting to have to work hard, respecting the ability of their opponents, then they have the skill and talent to win.

If they do not, don't be shocked if the German team surprises us all again with a well-made win.