When the Spain team news was announced before kick-off, you would be forgiven for double-taking at seeing ‘Andres Iniesta’ written on the list of substitutes. It ended a run of 21 consecutive starts in major tournaments which stretches back to June 2010.
It was a sign of the times that Iniesta has been reduced to the bench and is one of the last players still going from the 2010 World Cup final, with David Villa, Carlos Puyol, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Iker Casillas retire from international football or football altogether. Only Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos remain from the side that beat the Netherlands 1-0 in Johannesburg.
Fortunately for Spain, Iniesta, and all those connected with Spanish football, the future, once again, is very bright. In place of Iniesta was Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio, who, by contrast, was making his first start at a World Cup but already has two Champions League titles to his name.