Xabi Alonso believes Spain have enough quality to go all the way at this World Cup, with the former Spain midfielder saying he can see La Roja winning the tournament for sure ahead of their semi-final against France.
Alonso, who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010, said the team has reminded him of that title-winning side. He pointed to the way Spain play, the energy they bring and the control they have in matches as reasons for optimism.
“They play really good and they have a really strong team,” Alonso said, adding that watching Spain's games has brought back memories of the side he helped lead to the trophy in 2010.
Why Alonso’s comments matter
Spain reached the semi-final after needing late winners from Mikel Merino to get past Belgium and Portugal in the last two rounds. Those narrow victories showed resilience, but they also underlined how fine the margins have been on their run to this stage.
France, meanwhile, entered the semi-final without conceding in the knockout rounds, which sets up a difficult test for Spain. Still, Alonso made it clear he sees reasons to be hopeful, saying, “We have many reasons to be optimistic for sure.”
He also described the France clash as one of the best games to watch, saying he was looking forward to it whatever happens. For Spain, the task is simple enough: beat France and move one step closer to a second World Cup title.
What comes next
Alonso made his comments on Monday at his unveiling as Chelsea's new manager, while Malo Gusto was in line to feature against Spain on Tuesday. That timing gives the semi-final even more weight, with Spain carrying momentum and France bringing a spotless knockout record into the match.
So, has Spain ever won the World Cup? Yes — Alonso was part of the Spain team that won it in 2010. Now he is backing this group to do it again.
