Paying homage to the legendary Spanish sides of outdated that received three worldwide trophies in a row from 2008-2012, Luis De la Fuente’s Euro 2024 triumph has introduced the much-longed-for buzz of success again to La Piel de Toro.
Nonetheless, the highway again to glory was not simple. Robust however crucial calls wanted to be made. The footballing identification entrenched with Lo Roja for thus lengthy had begun to behave like a double-edged sword. Occasions had been altering, and Spain wanted to maintain up.
De le Fuente’s appointment, following a disappointing Qatar World Cup 2022 marketing campaign, made it clear that Spain wanted to maneuver on from the previous. Regardless of dominating the ball with 77% possession, the Spanish solely mustered up one shot on the right track, hardly ever troubling Moroccan keeper Yassine Bounou. The shortage of intent and predictable patterns of play returned to chunk La Roja as they had been once more on the tip of an unsuccessful penalty shootout, eradicated within the spherical of 16.
This was the breaking level for a workforce in decline since failing miserably in Brazil 2014. De la Fuente’s employment was the right transfer. He was somebody who knew the nuances of Spanish soccer and the way issues needed to evolve. The 63-year-old reignited the a lot sought-after pleasure in Spanish soccer, impressively turning fortunes round, and has managed to do all this his means. After the commanding outcome towards England within the closing of Euro 2024, De la Fuente’s title will go down in historical past, having now received the UEFA Nations League and the UEFA Euro 2024 again to again.
It was laborious to confess, however Spain now not had the expertise or personnel to play the long-lasting ‘Tiki-Taka’ type that had reaped a lot success previously. Transitioning from the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, and Fernando Torres wouldn’t be straightforward. These gamers had been as soon as on the pinnacle of world soccer, with Xavi and Iniesta making up two of the highest three Balon D’or locations within the 2011/12 season. That sort of expertise is irreplaceable.
Spain’s Mikel Merino (l) and Spain’s Rodri cheer in entrance of their followers after the two:1 victory. Photograph: Federico Gambarini/dpa (Photograph by Federico Gambarini/image alliance through Getty Photographs)
The previous golden era of Spanish soccer was supremely technically gifted and had all of the components to dominate with the ‘Tiki-Taka.’ Enjoying a possession-based recreation appeared like second nature, ingrained of their DNA. Opponents would chase shadows so typically that you may describe it as “dying by a thousand passes.” Logically, when these legends reached the twilight of their careers, Spain would additionally begin to see its dominance of the world recreation fade.
De la Fuente had an enormous job on his fingers, inheriting a Spanish aspect from Luis Enrique, which had not received main match silverware since 2012. However now it’s protected to say he was the fitting man for the job. Having been within the Spanish nationwide workforce system for an prolonged interval by means of teaching the youth groups, De la Fuente has had a chance to work with many promising kids, lots of whom made up his Euro 2024-winning squad.
Spain nonetheless possesses high quality midfielders able to controlling the center of the pitch, such because the world-class Rodri and thrilling Iniesta Regen Pedri, however they had been now solely the bottom of operations, not the core, permitting the thrilling youthful game-changers to take middle stage. The emergence of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal and his associate in crime, 21-year-old Nico Williams, has remodeled the Spanish nationwide workforce from a passive outfit trying to play an outdated type to a extra direct, aggressive method.
Lamine Yamal of Spain celebrates on the finish of the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Spain v France at Munich Soccer Enviornment on July 09, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photograph by Picture Photograph Company/Getty Photographs)
The younger wingers have registered a complete of 8 purpose contributions in Spain’s Euro 2024 marketing campaign, with the pair combining for Williams’ opening purpose within the closing towards England. Nico Williams possesses scary tempo and is all the time a dwell menace. On the identical time, the elegant Yamal is arguably already one of the best proper winger on the earth at 17, now with a Euro Younger Participant of the Match award subsequent to his title. It’s scary to think about what they will develop into in only a few years.
The fearless wing play on show in Euro 2024 was an asset Spain had not seen for the reason that ‘La Furia’ days greater than 100 years in the past. Regardless of all of the generational skills on the pitch, Spain didn’t have the posh of pure wingers of their golden run, as personnel was picked to go well with the possession recreation. Iniesta and David Silva had been typically makeshift wingers who carried out their duties out huge however didn’t possess the attributes of a conventional winger who may change the sport shortly with tempo and athleticism.
Other than impacting the result, Yamal and Williams’ youthful exuberance has allowed the remainder of Spain’s high quality to floor. Gamers like Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo had been capable of shine and had breakout Euro 2024 campaigns, with the latter making a robust case for the participant of the match.
Ruiz is an untraditional Spanish midfielder together with his dimension and drive who has benefited from the house created from direct huge play. He seemingly got here from the shadows to finish his marketing campaign with two objectives and two assists. Whereas Olmo is constructed like the standard Spanish midfielder, he possesses all of the qualities to thrive in De la Fuente’s new system. The Leipzig participant has latched onto all three of his objectives from explosive runs into the field, highlighting the brand new ‘construct’ of Spanish gamers.
This new-look Spanish squad has lastly struck a desired stability that permits them to undergo the gears however nonetheless possess the environment friendly system of outdated to manage video games. De la Fuente’s aspect scored probably the most objectives in Euro 2024, with 13, and had the best xG of all groups, boasting a formidable 10.3. In addition they boast one of the best defensive report of any workforce, conceding solely three objectives from 7 matches. Whereas Rodri and Pedri nonetheless symbolize the tidy, environment friendly Spanish DNA of outdated, the arrival of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams headlines the thrilling new era of Spanish skills that can pave the best way for years to return.
After a chronic interval of disappointment, Spanish followers have motive to be optimistic. With prodigious expertise coming by means of and an skilled backbone to maintain all of it collectively however, most significantly, a brand new identification, Profitable instances will once more be on the horizon. If Euro 2024 is a pattern dimension of what’s to return, we may very realistically see one other Spanish golden period with golden boys Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal on the forefront of all of it.
