2024 EURO: New & improved Spain seek European coronation

Daman Singh

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Chandigarh, July 13

Six wins in a row — a competition record. Thirteen goals netted — one needed to break away from a personal best tie. Ninety six chances created — more than any other team in the 2024 Euro.

Spain are in rampaging form ahead of the final against England, looking set for a fourth European coronation.

40 Spain’s only final defeat in the competition came 40 years back, against France in 1984. They could become the first team to win the competition on four separate occasions

1 This will be England’s first major tournament final on foreign soil, with the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2020 finals both played at Wembley Stadium

It seems they have undergone a sort of ecdysis — emerging from the possession-hogging tiki-taka style to embracing a layer of distinct versatility in their play.

Even though the current batch of players, including wonderkid Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo, may not be on the same level individually as Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets, David Villa, Isco and so on – the golden generation of 2008-2012 – but they are definitely not letting them down.

If they win tomorrow, it could be the dawn of a new era of Spain dominance; the new and improved La Roja.

Unlike the Spain of the past, which became hell-bent on passing its opponents to death with little or no reward, the current one is awash with a motley of a vertical, pacy and goal-driven game which has resulted in a montage of exhilarating football.

When Luis de la Fuente’s side won 3-0 over Croatia in their opener the stats pointed to a peculiar shift in their approach. They were happy to cede possession (46% to Croatia’s 54%), and that halted Spain’s 136-match run of having more ball than their opponents — a feat which stretched back to the 2008 Euro final.

In between that feat, the Spaniards bowed out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, both in the last-16, wherein they completed over 1,000 passes without any end product.

Lulling their rivals and then taking them by surprise is something the Spanish have thrived on for long, but the method seemed to have simply run its course. And de la Fuente, sensing urgency, has made all the right moves in modifying the structure of Spain and sharpening their edges.

The Rodri factor

Spain’s show largely runs on their attacking mindset. While Nico and Yamal pack a 1-2 punch on flanks with their menacing runs at defences, the midfield, the territory where often games are won and lost, has been their stronghold.

It is mainly due to Rodri. His calming presence in the middle has everyone else ensconced in their positions, no matter where they are on the field. He is the reason their defence doesn’t get worked up because he’s always there in nick of time. His cleaning-up also means Ruiz and Olmo can move high up the final third to generate an effective press or join the attack at will – no one has won possession in the final third more than Ruiz (12 times) in this edition which shows how good Spain are at pressing. And of course, Rodri has a cannon of a right foot and a knack for scoring all-important goals. No wonder the holding midfielder is regarded as the best in his position.

An upset?

But still, England can hurt them if they play their cards right. A lot depends on evading that press because once they find a way out of it many avenues can open up for them. In Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Harry Kane and new sensation Kobbie Mainoo, the Three Lions have the quality to exploit those pockets of space and will have to pounce on the opportunity.

The biggest threats from England have come in the later stages in the game. They may have huffed and puffed their way into the final but there’s been no shortage of resilience and character. Put on the back foot in all their knockout games, Gareth Southgate’s men have come out on top and that too in spectacular fashion.

The fact that Spain eased on the gas after taking leads against Germany and France — both won 2-1 in tight finishes and saw several chances spurned by their rivals — England cannot tread the same path if they are to end their 58-year wait for a title.