Spain, within the final twenty years, has been recognized for its philosophy of tiki-taka: take the ball, cross the ball.
Although it gained three trophies in 4 years sticking to it (Euro 2008 and 2012, FIFA World Cup 2010), silverware remained elusive for La Roja since, till 2022, regardless of racking up document passing numbers in main tournaments.
However underneath head coach Luis de La Fuente, who took cost in December 2022, Spain is present process winds of change.
In 17 months, La Roja has gained its maiden UEFA Nations League title, topped its Euro qualification group and stormed into the spherical of 16 with wins its all three video games – the primary time it did so since profitable the match in 2008.
Model of play whereas attacking
Although De La Fuente has caught to the core ideas of tiki-taka, he has most well-liked direct assaults over possession.
In opposition to Croatia, Spain had much less possession than its opponent for the primary time in 16 years, the final match being the Euro 2008 ultimate the place it had 46 per cent possession.
However the rating at full-time mirrored a convincing 3-0 victory for De La Fuente’s facet. And the main purpose for it was its no-nonsense assault, with wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Yamal, the youngest participant to ever play in Euros, has clocked a high velocity of over 30kmph whereas Williams is without doubt one of the quickest gamers on the planet, with a velocity of over 35kmph.
When Italian dailies referred to them as two Ferraris in opposition to Italy, they weren’t kidding!
Spain’s possession general has additionally undergone a serious dip, from 75.8 per cent on the FIFA World Cup 2022 to 53.7 per cent at Euro 2024.
Within the FIFA World Cup 2022, Spain had 23 build-ups (creating possibilities with passes to ultimately carry the ball into the ultimate third) – the best amongst all groups – and simply two direct assaults – third from backside – whereas within the 2024 European Championship, it had six quick break pictures (sudden transitions, counter assaults), the best amongst all groups up to now on this version.
Ranging from the again, Spain – not like its earlier philosophy of passing in triangles until the ball reached the ultimate third – has seemed to get a by ball or lengthy ball into the ultimate third, to make use of the tempo of Yamal and Williams.
Spain’s crosses into the penalty field, per 90 minutes, have elevated considerably, from 1.86 to 4.
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Spain’s crosses into the penalty field, per 90 minutes, have elevated considerably, from 1.86 to 4.
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Its crosses into the penalty field, per 90 minutes, have elevated considerably, from 1.86 to 4 – a 115 per cent enhance.
In Spain’s first aim in opposition to Croatia, Fabian’s by ball discovered Morata, with Yamal and Williams stretching the opposition with runs alongside the flanks.
And the crew has caught to the system regardless of who performs and in what formation they play. For instance, Spain made 10 modifications to its beginning XI and performed in a 4-2-3-1 formation as a substitute of a 4-3-3 which it employed in its earlier two video games.
However the lone aim of the match got here from a line-breaking lengthy ball from Aymeric Laporte to Dani Olmo. The entire build-up, together with the aim, had two passes: Laporte to Olmo and Olmo to Ferran Torres.
The entire build-up, together with the aim, had two passes: Laporte to Olmo and Olmo to Ferran Torres.
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The entire build-up, together with the aim, had two passes: Laporte to Olmo and Olmo to Ferran Torres.
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Defending when out of possession
Spain’s 4-3-3 formation on the FIFA World Cup 2022 modified to a 4-2-3-1 form formation whereas defending, trying to stave off the opponent within the midfield with an overloaded midblock.
At Euro 2024, Spain has gone with a constant 4-4-2 formation with equal significance on each traces of defence.
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At Euro 2024, Spain has gone with a constant 4-4-2 formation with equal significance on each traces of defence.
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On the 2024 European Championship, Spain has gone with a constant 4-4-2 formation with equal significance on each traces of defence.
Because of this, the form has been extra balanced than the earlier technique underneath Luis Enrique, which had 5 gamers within the midfield and 4 on the again whereas out of possession
On the Euros in Germany, it has had a collective common of 25 take-ons per 90 minutes – its greatest at a serious worldwide match since Euro 1996 (31 per 90).
Yamal and Williams’ tempo have come in useful too, who’ve retracted to a defensive form as rapidly as darting ahead alongside the wings, stretching the opponent.
Furthermore, the pivot of the mid-block has prevented the opponent’s midfielders from operating into the ultimate third, whereas the decrease block has marked the striker(s).
One of the vital vital gamers has been Rodri.
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One of the vital vital gamers has been Rodri.
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One of the vital vital gamers right here has been Rodri, who has turn into the proper successor to Sergio Busquets, honing his skills at Manchester Metropolis.
Having began as a centre-back on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he has aced the defensive midfield place on the Premier League facet, profitable the treble within the 2022-23 season and a four-peat of league titles with Pep Guardiola’s facet.
Beneath De La Fuente, Spain’s accuracy in tackles has additionally improved.
On the World Cup in Qatar, Spain completed fourth from backside (7.44) in profitable tackles and backside for interceptions made and the variety of gamers tackled (16.7) per 90 minutes.
On the Euros, the previous stat has risen as much as 10 whereas the latter to 21.7.
One of many largest elements in De La Fuente’s success has been his working with youth groups for 11 years earlier than taking on the senior crew’s job.
He groomed the under-19 facet from 2013 to 2018, then the under-21 and eventually, led the under-23 facet to the Olympics silver medal in Tokyo, three years in the past.
Half of Spain’s Euro 2024 squad includes gamers who’ve been both coached by De La Fuente within the youth sides or have been a part of his Tokyo 2020 contingent, the place Spain gained the silver medal.
The larger image
De La Fuente has managed simply 18 matches because the senior crew’s head coach, and his win share, amongst managers with at the least that many video games in cost, is the best.
Highest win share of Spanish managers:
- Luis De La Fuente – 86.1% (18 matches)
- Julien Lopetegui – 85% (20 matches)
- Luis Aragonés – 81.48% (54 matches)
- Vicente del Bosque – 80.7% (114 matches)
- Iñaki Sáez – 78.26% (23 matches)
The one supervisor who comes near him is Lopetegui, who managed 20 video games, and, after 18 matches, had a greater aim scoring and a fewer objectives conceded ratio than De La Fuente (59:12 to 55:16).
Nevertheless, what units De La Fuente other than Lopetegui is his efficiency in delivering silverware, which has eluded Spain for a decade.
On the UEFA Nations League ultimate, Spain beat Croatia on penalties as he grew to become solely the fourth coach to assist La Roja win a serious worldwide trophy.
And with soccer acumen, together with a bunch of gamers he helped form up for the senior crew, De La Fuente is taking a look at one other – the European Championship – in Germany.
“I feel we’re the very best on the planet by way of deciphering numerous match conditions,” he stated after beating defending champion Italy.
“In fact, that’s actually strengthened and strengthened whenever you win silverware. However I feel it’s vital to essentially underline the standard of this era of gamers, the gamers which have damaged into this squad. I feel the Spanish gamers are the very best on the planet,” he added.
However De La Fuente, refuting comparisons to the 2008-winning crew, has insisted that the facet might want to preserve its ft on the bottom.
“We now have an extended approach to go to meet up with that nationwide crew that you just talked about as a result of they gained the Euros,” he advised reporters.
“We have to enhance in each space. That will appear adverse however we’ve to maintain enhancing. That’s our aim from each day. The excellent news is there’s large room for enchancment, probably infinite or perhaps there’s a restrict.”
For Spain, the competitors solely will get more durable from right here, with the spherical of 16 fixture in Cologne on Sunday.
However for now, with three clear sheets within the group phases for the primary time, De La Fuente’s males can stall their march to Berlin and benefit from the progress, one stage at a time.