Pessimistic Spaniards reckon their team will lose in 2014

Many Spanish football fans are pessimistic about the future of their national football team, to judge by an online poll published on Monday.

Exactly a year ago, Spain won their first World Cup by beating the Netherlands 1-0 in Johannesburg, thanks to a late extra-time goal from Andres Iniesta.

   Monday was the first anniversary of Spain’s triumph, and Iniesta’s goal was shown endlessly on practically every television channel and website.

   However, a poll taken by the Marca sports daily showed, on Monday, that many Spanish fans are pessimistic about the chances of  Iniesta and company repeating the 2010 triumph at the 2014 World Cup, to be played in Brazil.

   Marca asked its readers: “Do you think Spain will retain the World Cup in Brazil in 2014?” 54.1 per cent of readers have voted ”no”, with 45.9 per cent voting “yes”.

   Hosts Brazil are the overwhelming favourites of the bookmakers to win the 2014 World Cup, despite their patchy showing in 2010 - they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands — and  despite their indifferent form at the current Copa America, being played in Argentina.