Lessons for the World Cup

Spain may have taken the first step towards winning the 2014 World Cup last night at the Maracaná. Strange as it sounds, and notwithstanding the disappointment at the defeat, the Confederations Cup is clearly the best testing ground for what awaits 'La Roja' in the 2014 World Cup.

Spain now knows exactly what next summer has in store: extreme humidity, suffocating heat and dubious hotel and transport infrastructure. The best example of all of this is the experience of the Spain team in the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Back then, the disappointment of taking third place in South Africa was soon forgotten a year later, when Iker lifted the World Cup trophy at the Soccer City stadium.