A second Spanish revolution in world soccer is underway. There’s an awesome perception that the Euro 2024 triumph is just not the vacation spot however the begin of a brilliant and courageous new Spanish period in soccer, that one thing much more magnificent is unfolding. Or reasonably, it appears like 2008 over again, a workforce that might blossom into one of many best of all time, one that might replicate the all-conquering brilliance of the tiki taka era. To presumptuous to talk, maybe, however horrifying is the expertise at their disposal.
That is an much more youthful workforce, one constructed on the splendorous items of a 17-year-old and 21-year, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, symbols of a extra multicultural Spain. Again in 2008, Xavi was 28, Iniesta 24. Whether or not they would scale the peaks of the midfield duo can’t be foreseen, however they’ve the expertise and ambition. However the dream is on. As a lot because the objectives, assists and match-winning turns they’d produced, they embodied the prized technical excellence and imaginative expression that Spanish soccer stands for. Not simply the flanksters, Spain had a wealthy array of abilities throughout the sector. Rodri is the crown of their jewel, as visionary as a contemporary midfield may very well be, Fabian Ruiz is a purring Ferrari when he needs to be.
Then, there have been different lesser-known gamers who made the machine whirr, a beauteous machine if there was one. Mikel Oyarzabal within the last was one among them, so was Mikel Merino within the recreation towards Germany. To not overlook the distinctive Dani Olmo, who scored in each knockout recreation minus the ultimate, who would have began however for an damage to Pedri. Or centre-backs Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte, each left-field selections, or Marc Cucurella, who assisted essentially the most well-known Spanish objective of the last decade to date, or the body-flinging resolve of Dani Carvajal. Befitting its unselfishness and depth, Spain had ten totally different goal-scorers this match.
Beneath the silk, there are layers of metal too; past the expertise that is additionally an especially aggressive group. And that’s the unshakeable basis of dynastic groups. Iniesta and Xavi had Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Marcos Senna and Sergio Ramos too.
🇪🇸 Spain are champions of Europe 🏆#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/Ch0AF0iPWl
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 14, 2024
Therein lies a beautiful paradox—it was a victory of each the collective and particular person, a fusion of extremely gifted people acting at their peak within the framework of the collective, a dynamic organism, every component respiration journey and intelligence. Few sides have had such a concise identification. One other irony is that a few of their guiding philosophies on this match have been antithetical to the beliefs of the Spanish recreation. Just like the existence of typical wingers, the predilection for lengthy passes and the overall verticality and directness. However the genius resides in how the coach and gamers wove these new components into the previous template with out disrupting the core worth of passing, urgent and aesthetics. The shift in fashion won’t be as earth-shattering because the tiki taka, however its polish and refinement evoke the same vibe. That stated, the techniques usually are not dogmatically inflexible, however versatile, and accommodative of tweaks on the go.
In brief, Spain exemplified all that made this match pleasant, and could be remembered as a facet who engaged each the mind and the soul, successful each love and respect, was a breath of air amidst cautious match soccer. There have been teams that had been collectively for a decade, with the identical nucleus and coach, but none may produce the cohesiveness of Spain. It’s a special Spain, however one as superb to behold because the batch of 2008. And the boys may already be seeking to the long run.