Spain arrived in Germany below the radar, with a sense they have been unnoticed. They go away not simply because the European champions — however with one other thrilling technology with the potential to rule the world.
This was the Euros of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, two adolescents off the pitch who was gamebreakers in a contest that modified their lives ceaselessly. It was the competitors of Rodri, a Ballon d’Or contender within the making. However typically, it belongs to a workforce who’ve been head and shoulders above everybody else.
Luis de la Fuente’s aspect swept previous Germany, France and finally England — the three greatest candidates to win the competitors — and none of them might complain.
Spain followers will keep in mind Euro 2024 as a result of it was not one other win: it was an sudden one. This squad was meant to be good, however not this good, and particularly not at this age. They’ve gained seven video games out of seven. One of the best participant of the event, in addition to the very best younger participant, have been Rodri and Yamal.
The Athletic has spoken to a number of folks over the previous 4 weeks, many talking on situation of anonymity as they weren’t cleared to talk publicly on the time, to inform the within story of what their success has been constructed on. It contains…
- The management of Alvaro Morata
- The unnoticed expertise De la Fuente confirmed to the world
- How the gamers embraced the change of favor
- The Yamal and Williams explosion
Morata — misunderstood however a ‘good captain’
Morata is fascinating. The 31-year-old striker has not been one in every of Spain’s standout performers, he scored one aim in seven video games, and it’s the one place De la Fuente would respect an enchancment in.
However it’s not possible to analyse this Spain workforce with out the determine of its captain — and the most-loved character within the dressing room.
“Media have given him and preserve giving him lots of stick… however I’m telling you: he’s the very best bloke in that dressing room,” stated one individual aware of the workforce atmosphere in Germany when requested about Morata.
“You would possibly assume that’s how I’ll describe each participant we’ve right here, however that’s not low-cost reward. Belief me. An excellent captain, the right man for this group.”
Morata lifts the trophy as captain (Alex Grimm/Getty Pictures)
Each issues are true. The quantity of stress Morata has needed to take care of during the last three main competitions for Spain has been nearly unprecedented. He was booed by his personal followers in March in a pleasant on the Santiago Bernabeu. “My children can’t perceive why followers are booing his dad,” he stated in Germany.
However contained in the dressing room, the place it issues most, the sensation is the alternative. “Morata is undoubtedly the participant who creates extra bonds contained in the group and one of many funniest guys. Each time he’s speaking, all of the younger guys hearken to him and his tales, he’s good,” stated Yamal earlier than the beginning of the competitors, to the shock of many followers.
He has been the guts of the bottom camp Spain set in Donaueschingen, a small city within the Black Forest. Other than having Yamal, Williams, Fermin Lopez or Alex Baena paying shut consideration to his tales, he has given golf courses to Marc Cucurella and Alex Remiro.
He was a poker accomplice for Dani Carvajal, Joselu, David Raya and Ayoze Perez. Earlier than the beginning of the competitors, he requested each participant to decide on a music to placed on their Spotify playlist to have all tastes represented and he was the DJ of the dressing room. The music La Potra Salvaje turned an anthem and was performed after each win as soon as the complete squad was on the workforce bus.
He has taken the diplomacy reins, too. Morata led the negotiations with the Spanish FA to outline the bonuses associated to performances. He wished an additional share of the entire bonus break up among the many employees that works day-after-day with them — from the equipment males to the media workforce, from physiotherapists to the cooks.
Within the build-up to the ultimate, he was supposed to talk alongside the supervisor within the press convention. As an alternative, he requested the FA to place Jesus Navas in place, so the 38-year-old might announce he was retiring from the nationwide workforce.
Morata stated through the competitors that “he doesn’t really feel valued in Spain and typically you’re feeling extra love from overseas”. He has been working with psychologists and after profitable the competitors, he confessed to nationwide TV, La 1, that two ex-Spanish gamers prevented him from retiring.
“If it had not been for Andres Iniesta and Bojan Krkic, I’d not have performed this Euros. They’re the kind of people who find themselves items from life. They went via related conditions I’ve had right here. On the finish of the tunnel, there’s all the time gentle.”
This Euros turned Morata into the fourth-best goalscorer ever for Spain, with 36 objectives in 80 video games. De la Fuente stated that, if he needed to reincarnate as a participant of his workforce, it could be his captain.
He would possibly as effectively retire after this success, however Morata’s instance has had a deep affect — his mission accomplished.
De la who?
Declan Rice stated he didn’t know the Spanish supervisor earlier than this Euros and you may’t actually blame him for it — De la Fuente’s expertise at a membership stage is lowered, at its greatest, to 2 failed initiatives in Spain’s third tier.
However on a global stage, it’s one other story. The 63-year-old has been part of Spain’s setup since 2013 — sufficient time to characteristic in 5 main tournaments within the youth ranks. He turned champion in two and reached the semi-finals not less than in all of them. Regardless of Euro 2024 being his first expertise at a senior stage, he has delivered once more.
De la Fuente hugs Williams — whose partnership with Yamal has been key to Spain’s success (Odd Andersen/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
He created an pleasurable atmosphere across the workforce quite than preferring names beloved by the media, similar to defender Sergio Ramos or Actual Madrid ahead Brahim Diaz, the latter finally opting to signify Morocco.
De la Fuente’s greatest achievement has been passing on his expertise in knockout tournaments to a squad who’ve by no means seemed shocked by the most important stage.
“I’m absolutely satisfied that the gamers we’ve listed below are the very best we’ve to win this. I’d not change any of them,” he stated when he introduced his squad.
“Absolutely the precedence we had was to verify we discovered a superb position distribution on the pitch. Let each participant know what we anticipated from them and present how they may make the distinction,” a member of the teaching employees says to The Athletic.
“We had a fairly stable construction from earlier than the competitors. The gamers knew it. We knew them so effectively from youth ranks. All was set and we simply wanted to place the ball into the again of the online. As quickly because it occurred… it clicked.”
Spain’s dressing room knew few folks have been tipping them for glory, however they’ve used that as motivation to show folks improper.
“This technology has a profitable mentality, proven from the youth ranks,” stated Mikel Merino earlier than the beginning of the event. “That is the most important of the pressures and what we set ourselves for. We don’t take a look at what’s stated on the skin.”
For all of the younger stars, the veterans performed a particular position, too. Navas was the one participant left from the 2008 Spanish golden technology, led by Xavi Hernandez, Iker Casillas, Iniesta and Ramos.
Navas has been coping with a persistent hip damage for the final 4 seasons however, regardless of all the pieces, he wished to be there. He was wanted to begin within the semi-final towards France after Dani Carvajal was despatched off within the quarter-final win over Germany. He performed 58 minutes by which he was capable of comprise Kylian Mbappe.
That very same night time, folks briefed on the state of affairs say Navas couldn’t sleep as a result of ache he was in together with his hip.
The instance he set to the youthful technology in that workforce concerning the values and dedication to defend the shirt, within the eyes of De la Fuente’s employees, is as valuable as any win they may get.
Spain have been satisfied they may go all the best way due to De la Fuente’s religion in them. When the remainder of the world realised that, it was too late to make them crumble.
Gamers embraced the brand new period
A 3-0 win towards Croatia within the opening sport revealed loads about Spain: the tiki-taka days have been gone. Spain had much less possession for the primary time in 136 aggressive matches — however deservedly gained.
Turning into a flexible workforce was the most important demand De la Fuente sought when he was appointed because the nationwide supervisor after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as reminiscences of the defeat on penalties to Morocco have been contemporary and poignant.
De la Fuente has concerned sure gamers throughout the common management of the group — and listened to as a lot of them as potential.
Notably related was a second within the quarter-final towards Germany. In the course of the second half, with the hosts pushing for an equaliser, Carvajal requested his supervisor to take Yamal off, because the German wing-backs have been inflicting issues and {the teenager} was struggling to maintain up with the monitoring again. De la Fuente agreed and Ferran Torres changed him within the 63rd minute.
One other of the gamers who has been listened to has been Rodri. The Manchester Metropolis midfielder believed that neutralising their opposition’s counter-attacks was essential if Spain wished to beat the very best groups.
Rodri was named the very best participant of the event (Javier Soriano/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
The prime instance arrived earlier than the last-four assembly with France. The workforce had barely time to coach, as they wanted to get better health ranges, so De la Fuente centered on one facet: counter-pressing after shedding the ball and guarding towards counter-attacks.
De la Fuente believed the fundamentals of their type have been so well-processed by his gamers that he most popular to focus coaching on lowering their weaknesses. The assistant supervisor and former La Liga participant, Pablo Amo, is likely one of the names praised for his position in coaching.
“Due to the work Spanish academies are placing in, we imagine the Spanish footballers are those with the very best decision-making on the planet,” a member of the teaching employees says.
“All gamers should determine what each play requires and the execution that follows is generally proper. Figuring out we’ve that, for us it was solely to spice up it and attempt to right the issues we lacked probably the most.
“We’re not right here to enhance our gamers as a result of we don’t have the time. If they’re right here, it’s as a result of they’re already so good at many issues. Our solely aim is to make our participant’s life in-game simpler. That’s how we plan.”
Yamal and Williams announce themselves to the world
For them, it began in Georgia within the qualifiers. It was September 2023 and De la Fuente had simply gained the Nations League, however the stress on him had not light utterly.
Spain clinched the trophy with two hard-fought wins, one in additional time and the opposite after penalties, towards Italy and Croatia. Outcomes have been higher than emotions and there was loads of work to do. Their place on the Euros was not secured after a loss in Scotland.
Spain have been about to journey to face Georgia, a aspect towards whom that they had struggled to beat. De la Fuente opted to make use of a refreshing duo on the wings: Williams and Yamal performed collectively for the primary time. Spain gained 7-1 they usually each scored.
Yamal and Williams share a second in Berlin on the last whistle (Jewel SAMAD / AFP)
4 days later, Williams and Yamal began one other qualifier, towards Cyprus — Spain gained 6-0. Williams supplied two assists, whereas Yamal’s craft blew everybody’s thoughts. That was the start of the partnership that lit up Euro 2024.
“That journey to Georgia is essential to understanding success,” says a member of the backroom employees. “It was a launch level. Stress was nonetheless round and the best way we performed helped us to imagine we have been heading in the right direction.”
The best way Yamal and Williams clicked on and off the pitch was past their wildest goals.
The wingers acquired to know one another in September final 12 months due to Barcelona and Spain full-back Alejandro Balde. Yamal and Williams have been quickly sharing rooms on worldwide obligation, filming TikToks and bolstering their chemistry on the pitch.
In Germany, the bromance saved going. Williams, 22, known as Yamal “his son” as he claimed “he nonetheless must study from the recommendation of his elder one”. {The teenager} would reply to his joke saying he utterly owned his counterpart after they confronted one another at EA FC24.
Williams was the person of the match within the last towards England; Yamal was the younger participant of the event. They’ve been concerned in eight objectives within the event.
“They’re the brand new period,” a member of the Spanish FA advised The Athletic. They’ve grow to be the indeniable favourites of each fan. They’re position fashions in a rustic the place coping with racism in sport has been debated repeatedly, two younger athletes from an immigrant background are displaying everybody what the true Spain seems to be like.
“They’re a relentless pleasure, they’ve added this to the workforce” De la Fuente stated. “We’ve got a mature squad, very skilled, after which these guys are so enjoyable to be with. They’ve fitted so effectively with the veterans, who took the contemporary air they introduced and revitalised themselves, too. Our extra senior gamers assist loads in guiding them. The alternate and affect is actually constructive.”
Now will probably be time to take a look at their instant future — particularly within the case of Williams. Will Athletic Bilbao be capable to preserve him? His £55million ($71.4m) launch clause will certainly be too tempting for prime European golf equipment…
Turning points into blessings
No one would imagine shedding a participant similar to Pedri to damage may very well be excellent news — however it turned out to open a door for Dani Olmo. The RB Leipzig attacking midfielder was not a starter however ended the Euro 2024 as the highest goalscorer with three objectives. He got here on within the eighth minute towards Germany after Pedri’s damage and took a starring position.
The moment options De la Fuente has discovered to the minor points that emerged all through the competitors have been a decisive issue of their success.
Olmo celebrates his semi-final winner towards France (Alex Livesey/Getty Pictures)
Nacho began towards Croatia after an excellent end-of-season at Actual Madrid as Aymeric Laporte was struggling some bodily discomfort. Then it was Nacho who was injured and reopened a door for Laporte to flourish as their greatest centre-back.
De la Fuente had a giant name to make on the left-back position. He opted for Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella in entrance of Alex Grimaldo, who starred for Bayer Leverkusen, and it was impressed.
“Generally we imagine we have to use the very best gamers obtainable, however it’s extra necessary to make use of those that make your workforce higher,” one individual with an understanding of the dressing room atmosphere stated. Cucurella excelled defensively and his good cross arrange Mikel Oyarzabal to attain the winner within the last.
Then there’s Fabian Ruiz. The 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was one of many starters with the bottom pedigree among the many group earlier than Euro 2024. He scored as soon as and laid on one other towards Croatia and was a dominant midfielder all through the competitors.
Fabian was one of many stars of the event (Richard Pelham/Getty Pictures)
There was an emergence of sudden heroes, too. Merino scored the winner towards Germany in the identical stadium the place his dad scored for Osasuna again within the Nineteen Nineties.
And Oyarzabal, the Actual Sociedad ahead who missed the final World Cup as a result of a critical knee damage, vindicated his restoration course of with the 86th-minute winner towards England.
Soccer is just not meant to be a good sport, however Spain weren’t meant to be the very best workforce on this competitors.
(High images: Getty; Dan Mullan, Miguel Medina/AFP, Ina Fassbender/AFP; design: Dan Goldfarb)