Spain's Forwards Aren't A Problem, They're A Big Problem

 

Spain suffered a 1-0 defeat in Ukraine on Tuesday evening without ever doing too much to deserve to lose the game, but when goals aren't scored and a goalkeeper makes a fatal error then there's not much that can be complained about.

Luis Enrique's side has some promise. There are young players and they play with intensity and solidarity, but they don't have what it takes to kill games - goals.

What became clearer than anything is that Spain have problems in front of goal, and this defeat leaves a bad taste in the mouth to end the international break.

 

Just one goal in three games is a very poor return for this set of internationals.

A draw with Portugal, a 1-0 win over Switzerland and a defeat to Ukraine is not what Spain would have wanted from these games.

Rodrigo Moreno, Mikel Oyarzabal and Gerard Moreno all failed to show that they deserve to start for La Roja.

Even Sergio Ramos did more as a No.9 than any of the forwards as he was sent up top in the 85th minute against Ukraine.

 

Adama Traore was one of the standouts on the night, if not the best player on the pitch.

The Catalan left his markers for dead a number of times, but his crosses never found someone wanting to finish them.

On the other side of that coin, though, Ansu Fati had a bad night.

David de Gea's demons have returned.

He was caught out of position by a direct pass and conceded with the first shot on his goal.

The move involved three players and started with the goalkeeper, showing Spain can be carved open with easy.

 

Spain's starting XI consisted of players from 11 different clubs.

Manchester United, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Tottenham, Real Betis, Manchester City, Real Sociedad, Wolves, Leeds United and Barcelona were all represented.

On a number of occasions Spain's XI has been dominated by Real Madrid and/or Barcelona, but those days are in the past and the spread is much more even.