Spain enters this year’s World Cup of Darts as clear underdogs, and a Spanish breakthrough would certainly help spark new life into darts around the Mediterranean.

Players: Daniel Zapata / Ricardo Carballo
Ranking: 28

Two new players will get the chance to represent Spain in this year’s edition of the World Cup of Darts. Daniel Zapata and Ricardo Carballo replace last year’s players Jesús Noguera and José Justicia. Last year, Spain’s hopes of advancing were crushed already in the first match when they lost 4–0 to Sweden. In their second group stage match, they faced a derby against Gibraltar, which they narrowly lost 4–3.

It will be exciting to see the new pair Zapata/Carballo on stage, although it’s a bit of a shame that we won’t see José Justicia this year, as we consider him the Spanish player with the highest potential.

For Spain to make it past the group stage, they’ll need a favorable draw and to find their rhythm on doubles from the very start.