Joel Slagle has always been a skeptic when it comes to Spanish football, but even he cannot resist the magic of Iniesta, Silva, and Isco. The three magicians are set to bamboozle opponents and audiences in the greatest show on the planet: Russia 2018.
I admit I have always been something of a skeptic when it comes to Spanish football. The last La Liga match I watched had David Beckham featuring for Real Madrid and Ray Hudson screaming bon mots such as “BRAVER THAN A MATADOR…IN HIGH HEELS…IN A PINK TUTU!” Despite Hudson’s manic commentary, the league just was not my cup of tea. My football philosophy was shaped by events in 2004 such as Greece’s unlikely Euro triumph and Porto’s scrabbling Champions League win. Spain’s proactive, possession-based football over the last decade simply did not do it for me.
So, when I tuned in to watch the Spanish football team friendly against Germany over the international break, I was hoping to see Die Mannschaft take apart their opponents a la Bayern Munich against Barcelona in 2013. Instead, I received the pleasure of watching Spain’s band of attacking midfielders: David Silva, Andres Iniesta, and Isco.
It is not exactly breaking new ground to point out that these three players are very, very good at football. But it is important to look at what makes them so special. A clue is in their nicknames.