THE VITALS:

Team: Spain

Brand: Adidas

Era: 2013-15 (Used for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the 2016 UEFA European Championship Qualifying campaign)

Name/Number: Torres #9

CONDITION: VERY GOOD

This shirt stands in very-good condition, with the material showing very little sign of wear and the applications also standing in fine stead. Regrettably, the crest is misaligned, leading me to think that this may be a factory second.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Large

Pit to Pit Measurement: 21.5 inches

Shirt Length: 29 inches 

Made in Adidas's ‘ClimaCool’ range which they introduced ahead in 2014; this shirt provides excellent dimensions for a relaxed size large fitting shirt and could also be appropriate for a size extra-large too.

DESCRIPTION:

After winning 3 of their last 5 tournaments; Spain would look to do the unthinkable in Brazil ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and successfully retain the World Cup. While it wasn’t to be in a shocking group stage exit from the competition, this first ever red and gold ensemble from Adidas really encapsulated where the Spanish national side were in 2014 at the precipice of both Europe and the world! This red and gold number would be amongst the series of experimental colour schemes are Adidas utilised ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil! While the main body of the shut featured a ghosting red and burgundy striped design and gold name and numbering; the red shorts were the salient feature in what as a first for ‘La Roja’.This cycle would be the last series worn for the national side by the heroes of the era of Spanish dominance: Fernando Torres, Xavi, Xabi Alonso and Javi Martinez.

THE SEASON(S):

A roller-coaster 2013 for the national side which saw qualification for the World Cup in Brazil sealed and the disappointment of losing to Brazil in the Confederations Cup Final, culminated with a pair of friendlies against African opposition, beginning with Equatorial Guinea on November 16^th in Malabo. Spain would prevail 2-1, however, they would be stunned 1-0 against South Africa on November 19^th at Soccer City – the very stadium they won the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final against the Netherlands in!

2014 finally brought ‘La Roja’ together for the March 5^th visit of Italy to the Vicente Calderon for a high-profile friendly. Pedro would score the only goal in a 1-0, and the national side would have to wait until May to begin their final preparation ahead of their World Cup title defence.

May 30^th presented the visit of Bolivia to Sevilla’s Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, and Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta were both on the scoresheet in a 2-0 for the hosts. 7 days later, they found themselves in Washington where they met El Salvador in their final dress-rehearsal before their World Cup opener on June 7^th. David Villa would score a brace in a routine 2-0 win for Vicente del Bosque’s side.

Drawn in Group B alongside: Australia, Chile and their adversaries in the 2010 World Cup Final: Holland; Spain would be expected to qualify at all costs, despite the level of opposition in this heated group. Salvador was the venue as Spain and Holland met in a rematch of the aforementioned final in Johannesburg, some 4 years earlier. Xabi Alonso’s penalty gave Spain a 27^th minute lead, however, in utterly incredible fashion; Louis Van Gaal’s Holland would then romp their way to a 5-1 win in one of the most incredible game’s in the history of the World Cup!

Spain would next meet Chile knowing that anything less than a win could leave them facing the unthinkable – a group stage exit from the competition. Omens were good for the champions, after-all, they lost their opener in 2010 and then went on to win every game en route to the title; conceding just the single goal on the way no less! Chile, who also played Spain at the 2010 World Cup, had other ideas, and after they went 2-0 up before half-time; the writing was all but on the wall for Spain…

Joining Italy and France as World Cup holders to be eliminated at the Group Stage this century; Spain would leave Brazil by punishing Australia 3-0 in a game which Fernando Torres scored his 38^th and final goal for the national side, as he, Xavi, Xabi Alonso all retired from international set-up in wake of the tournament. With his tremendous body of work since taking over from Luis Aragones; Vicente del Bosque was given a spare of reprieve and was instead, charged with guiding Spain to Euro 2016.

Clearly, there was still a post-World Cup hangover, as France defeated Spain 1-0 in a September 4^th friendly, and although Spain would get their European qualifying campaign underway with a 5-1 win over Macedonia, Slovakia would stun them 2-1 in Zilina on October 9^th. Despite follow up wins over Luxembourg and Belarus; the misery of 2014 was compounded as they were beaten 1-0 by the new champions of the world: Germany in the final game of the 2014 calendar on November 18^th.

A long 4 months passed before Spain battled Ukraine on March 27^th in Seville, and Alvaro Morata’s goal earnt the European Champions a 1-0 win in their first fixture of 2015. 4 days later, they would be beaten Holland again, albeit by just a 2-0 margin this time, in their friendly in Amsterdam.

That defeat would galvanise the side ahead of their return to action on June 11^th as they beat 2014 World Cup quarter finalists: Costa Rica 2-1 on June 11^th. 3 days later, they beat Belarus 1-0 to keep their bid sweep qualification at the first attempt in-tact. Spain were clearly back in their groove as they kept a pair of clean sheets in the respective wins over Slovakia and Macedonia in September.

Paco Alcacer and Santi Cazorla enjoyed scoring a brace each in the 4-0 win over Luxembourg and they ended Euro 2016 qualification large and in-charge with their 9^th win of the round-robin - a 1-0 triumph over Ukraine in Kiev on October 12^th. This game would take place in the Olympic Stadium where Spain beat Italy 4-0 to retain the European Championship in 2012!

The real test of Spain’s form would come against England on November 13^th in Alicante. England would go through qualifying having won all 10 of their games and were unbeaten in their last 17 games going back to 2014! Spain would put Europe on tilt as they beat England 2-0 thanks to goals from Mario Gaspar and Santi Cazorla! This would be the final game for Spain of 2015, and the last time this cycle of shirts were used, as their proposed friendly with Belgium on November was unfortunately cancelled.    

The notable players that season(s) were:

Fernando Torres, David Villa, Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata, Paco Alcacer, Pedro, David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Isco, Santi Cazorla, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Koke, Juan Mata, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Mario Gaspar, Juanfran, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Cesar Azpilicueta, Raul Albiol, Gerard Pique, Javi Martinez, Juan Bernat, Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina, David De Gea