The European champions failed to convince as they beat Ukraine by a single strike in Seville and are still struggling to forge an identity after World Cup failure

By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer
There was quality all through the team. Four Barcelona players, three from Real Madrid, two Atletico Madrid and one each from Manchester City and Juventus started for Spain against Ukraine on Friday. On paper, it was a formidable line-up. On the pitch, however, it proved far less impressive.

Still stuck between the old and the new, Vicente del Bosque's side are struggling to make the transition to a new era following failure in Brazil.

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas should have followed Xavi, Xabi Alonso and David Villa into international retirement, but lingers on like a drunk uncle who wants one more glass of brandy before bedtime. And Andres Iniesta remains too, providing fantastic flashes of his sublime skills but unable to control a game like he did so superbly at the height of Spain's success between 2010 and 2012.

Del Bosque claimed before the game that Iniesta and Isco could co-habit the same ecosystem and for 45 minutes they did. Iniesta moved the ball around neatly, occasionally leaving Ukraine's players in his tracks with a neat turn or shimmy, while Isco probed and pushed, running at defenders and always looking for the opportunity to shoot.

But up against a deep-lying Ukraine defence, Spain's technicians were all a little too similar. Isco, Iniesta, David Silva and Koke were pretty passing and neat triangles, with only one of those finding a breakthrough - a neat ball inside from the Barcelona midfielder, flicked on by the Atleti man for Alvaro Morata to chip over the Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov.

And instead of building on that in the second half, Spain were slow, slack, sluggish and sterile. Sergio Ramos hit the post with a header and substitute Santi Cazorla forced Pyatov into a super late save, but La Roja rarely looked like adding to Morata's goal and Casillas was even called into action with a smart stop at the other end.

"We lost intensity in the second half and allowed them back into the game," Del Bosque said afterwards. "The second half left a bad taste in our mouths."

But a lot of that is down to the coach and this team should be capable of much more - especially at home. And since the World Cup, Spain have shown only small signs of progress - with their coach still seemingly reluctant to make big changes.

On Friday, Del Bosque's decision to bring on the out-of-form Pedro lacked imagination - especially with Sevilla's newly capped winger Vitolo on the bench and eager to impress in front of his home fans.

Ultimately Morata's goal proved sufficient, but Spain stay three points behind Group D leaders Slovakia (who beat Luxembourg 3-0) and it was an unconvincing performance from a team that will be looking to make it three European Championships in a row should they qualify for next summer's showpiece in France.

At the moment, however, qualification is not a certainty and La Roja remain a work in progress, a transitional project. Del Bosque has long insisted he is the man to turn this team around after their humiliating first-round exit in Brazil last summer, but Spain are currently confused, cautious and clearly lacking leadership.

Spain now face Netherlands in a friendly on Tuesday, a game that will perhaps give a clearer indication of the team's progress in this latest development stage.

"There will be changes for that game," Del Bosque said. "We don't want to wear out the players."

But beyond personnel, what this team requires is a fresh identity. Gone is the Spain style that wowed the world between 2008 and 2012, with football in a new era that sees top teams combine a passing philosophy with pace and power. The game has evolved and La Roja now need to move on as well. At the moment, however, it isn't quite happening.