Good all-round play undermined by Spain's poor finishing touch
There was plenty of good all-round play, but that crucial finishing touch was distinctly lacking. That's how you could summarise Spain's display in a draw with Switzerland that was a disappointing send-off for La Roja as they now prepare to fly to Russia for the World Cup. There are caveats, though, chief among which the players they were missing. Sergio Busquets was a late pull-out, unexpectedly leaving Spain without a guy who is really the fulcrum of the side: always there when a team-mate looks for him, always on hand to help out a colleague in need. Another big absence was Isco, who brings so much quality to the team's tiki-taka brand of football. There was also no Sergio Ramos, Spain's cajoler-in-chief: when the tough gets going, he gets the team going. Dani Carvajal was absent too, but less should be made of that: Álvaro Odriozola was superb in his position.
Right-back Odriozola pops up with goal as attack misfires
Julen Lopetegui went with Diego Costa up top and Iago Aspas to the right, a role that the Celta Vigo man isn't so at home in. You really want to see him on the left, as a second striker or leading the line, but this was the brief he was given and, it's fair to say, it didn't work out. Spain's best stuff came on the other flank, where Andrés Iniesta, David Silva and Jordi Alba linked up to great effect. Costa fought tooth and nail inside the box, but had little bearing on the build-up play and, despite offering glimpses of his quality with the odd dangerous lay-off, was never able to get himself into shooting positions. As it was, Spain's goal came from an unlikelier source: newcomer Odriozola, who popped up time and again on the right with pace and quality, and got his reward when he found the net with a fantastic potshot.
Blunt Spain made to pay as De Gea gaffe allows Swiss to level
The team's complexion changed as Lopetegui made subs during the second half. Spain ended up with Lucas Vázquez and Marco Asensio on the wings, and Rodrigo Moreno at centre-forward. They continued to control the possession, continued to dominate, but still the chances were slow to come. Worse still, the visitors plundered an equaliser against the run of play, when David de Gea spilled a shot that should have been a routine stop and left Ricardo Rodríguez, Switzerland's half-Spanish full-back, with an open goal. That moment - allied with Spain's lack of cutting edge - cost them the match. Rodrigo saw La Roja's best opportunity saved by Yann Sommer (following a fine bit of skill by Vázquez), while Nacho, another defender, twice came close as the hosts pushed for a late winner. No doubt about it: actually putting the ball in the back of the net is our Achilles' heel.