SpainâÂÂs unsurprising 6-0 win over Liechtenstein on Tuesday night sealed a wrinkle-free qualification through to the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and the Ukraine. And that got LLLâÂÂs noggin a-bogglin'.
While the make-up of the Spain squad for that competition and even the World Cup in 2014 could look similar, barring a few Xavi- and Puyol-shaped tweaks, the blog started contemplating how a 4-3-3 Spain in five years' time may well look for Euro 2016 in Franceâ¦
Manager â Pep Guardiola
Yet another year of trying to win every trophy going, being charming and magnanimous whilst putting up with José MourinhoâÂÂs eye-poking dottiness is more than enough for the Barça boss and his struggling hairline. A year away from the game, followed by a season racking up the cash for a club in Qatar, puts Pep in prime position to take over from the retiring Vicente del Bosque in 2014 and kick off the mother of all anti-Madrid Marca conspiracies as Guardiola calls up most of the Masia U-17 side for a qualifier against Wales, just to see what happens.
Goalkeeper â David de Gea
By 2016, the Manchester United keeperâÂÂs wonderful follicular fin stands three feet high and is topped off by the traditional Spanish mullet, once so beloved of Rayo VallecanoâÂÂs Fernando Torres. The early wobbles and "new Massimo Taibi" taunts of his first months at Old Trafford are swiftly forgotten â as are the memories of De Gea ever having played for Atlético Madrid, the United man using his wealth hiring hackers to wipe that embarrassing episode from history.
Right-back â Sergio Ramos
Having told anyone eyeing his right-back berth that he won't give it up without a fight â literally â the Real Madrid man holds the position for a further half-decade. Even in 2016 the defender, now 31, is still sprightly, even if his signature late hacks from behind aren't as (un)timely as in the glory days.
Centre-back â Alberto BotÃÂa
Despite being parachuted into the Spain squad at the age of 22 for the September 2011 matches against Chile and Liechtenstein, the former Barcelona boy turned Sporting star doesn't have an easy path to becoming Gerard PiquéâÂÂs defensive partner. Tactfully ignoring those three formative teenage years at la Masia he is bundled into the Santiago Bernabeu (after Ricardo Carvalho falls out with Pepe for good) and anointed another 'new Hierro'â only to become the new bench-bothering Raúl AlbÃÂol. However, then Florentino Pérez is forced to hire BotÃÂaâÂÂs former Gijon gaffer Manuel Preciado, having run out of coaches to ask. Being under his mentor puts BotÃÂaâÂÂs career back on track, with many a happy night for Spain.
Centre-back â Gerard Piqué
Being dumped by Shakira for GetafeâÂÂs Miguel Torres in late 2012 sends Piqué into a Hamburger Elvis phase for a couple of seasons, but the seething rage burning inside the Catalan defender still produces campaign after campaign of wondrous performances for club and country â despite the increasing length of time it takes to trundle up and down the field to harass the referee. By 2016 Piqué is 29, in his pomp and dedicating a passionate version of Against All Odds to Shakira during his post-Euro-2016-winning interview with Sara CarboneraâÂÂs younger replacement. Whom he then tries to get off with.
Left-back â Nacho Monreal
Moving to Málaga in summer 2011 was the best move the left-back ever made. While at Osasuna, international call-ups often led to sudden injury and Alvaro Arbeloa taking his berth. But all this will be a fading memory for the Pamplona-born defender who will be 29 in 2015 with two years at Real Madrid under his belt after Málaga go bust due to the 2013 Great Oil War instigated by President Michelle Bachmann.
Midfield â Sergio Busquets
A hopping mad Madrid press is forced to watch and admire BarcelonaâÂÂs stranglehold on SpainâÂÂs midfield for a further five years. WhatâÂÂs more, Sergio Busquets simply canâÂÂt be budged out of his holding position. Indeed the Barça midfielder matures into his role of all-round dastardly villain of football by tattooing an evil black eye-mask and twirly moustache onto his face after an unfortunate black-out ending, team-building night out with the controversially appointed new Barcelona boss Dani Güiza.
Midfield â Cesc Fabregas
Winning 57 domestic trophies in the five years since leaving Arsenal makes Cesc Fabregas the outcast of both the Barcelona and Spain dressing rooms by 2015: having received 15 years' worth of Camp Nou self-satisfaction in a third of the recommended time, the Barça No.4 is still immensely gifted but utterly intolerable after mere minutes in his extraordinarily smug company.
Midfield â Santi Cazorla
In 2011 it seems as if the wonderfully talented Thiago should be SpainâÂÂs first-choice playmaker for years â and indeed the Barça midfielder makes the position his own for two seasons. But the sight of CazorlaâÂÂs disappointed, sad puppy face being repeatedly told that he wonâÂÂt be starting breaks GuardiolaâÂÂs heart to such an extent that the hyper-motivated midfielder is a first pick every time for PepâÂÂs side.
Forward â Pedro
Poor old Pedro spends another five years being forgotten by pundits talking about BarcelonaâÂÂs star-studded line-up. âÂÂWhat a team, Clive: Messi, Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Piqué, Alexis.â Not even the tiny words âÂÂIâÂÂm a World Cup winner as well, you knowâ secretly sown into his club shirt seem to make much of a difference. But it doesnâÂÂt stop the Canary Islander picking up a whole bag of caps for his country.
Forward â Alvaro Negredo
The general bolshiness of the Sevilla striker increases in direct correlation to the number of goals he bangs in over the next five years. Which is a lot. In 2011, Negredo pushes Fernando Llorente and Fernando Torres out of the Spanish squad; in 2013, itâÂÂs David VillaâÂÂs turn to be dumped on his bum â literally, after an unfortunate training ground incident influenced by the pumped-up Primera Pichichi spending an ill-advised all-nighter watching cage-fighting.
Forward â David Silva
Following a chance encounter with Chris Eubank after a Manchester City match, David Silva encourages the constant description of him as âÂÂelegantâ by never being seen without a top hat and monocle during a three-year spell in the Premier League. A return to a newly-enriched Valencia soon brings Silva down to earth, though.
