CURITIBA, Brazil – With the Netherlands determined to use a defensive setup to beat Spain, the World Cup champions are honing their famed "tiki-taka" system in reply.
Coach Vicente del Bosque put his players through an intense opening training session on Monday, pushing his players to refine the quick-touch, possession-based style that has propelled it to the top of world football.
Spain's commitment to its tactics has left the Netherlands preparing a new formation with five defenders for their Group B opener on Friday.
The rematch of the brutish 2010 World Cup final, won by Spain 1-0, looks like it could pick up in Salvador right where it left off in Johannesburg.
Spain's lone question mark? Whether striker Diego Costa will lead the attack.