Spain arrived in Germany with out marquee stars or lofty expectations.
Six weeks later, Luis de la Fuente’s squad returned dwelling champions of the European Championship, buoyed by the rising skills of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, complemented by the skilled management of Rodri and others who had lengthy awaited a significant trophy.
The turning level was Spain’s transformation right into a dynamic and adaptable attacking pressure, marking the top of a decade suffering from “tiki-taka” frustrations.
Despite Williams later expressing his satisfaction with the present second and the prospects for the longer term, the Athletic Bilbao winger couldn’t resist anticipating the 2026 World Cup.
“We hope to keep this momentum going and aim for the World Cup,” stated the 22-year-old after scoring the opening objective within the last. “I said before the tournament that no one can match us. We are a great team.”
The jubilation was well-founded.
Spain gained all seven matches – none required penalties – and scored a document 15 targets at a European Championship.
These victories included triumphs over conventional European powerhouses like Croatia and Italy within the group stage, adopted by eliminating Germany and France to succeed in the ultimate.
“We made history by defeating four former world champions in succession,” Rodri stated. “This tournament has been the toughest challenge our team has faced, without a doubt. We conquered them all.”
The group flew again to Madrid on Monday, the place captain Alvaro Morata proudly displayed the trophy on the tarmac stairs. Subsequently, the group visited Spain’s King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez earlier than becoming a member of hundreds of followers within the capital for celebrations.
Rodri was named the event’s finest participant, regardless of sitting out the second half of the ultimate because of a leg harm. The Manchester City midfielder is now Spain’s main contender for the nation’s first males’s Ballon d’Or since Luis Suarez in 1960. Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmatà and Alexia Putellas have claimed the ladies’s Ballon d’Or for the previous three years.
This victory ends a 12-year wait for the reason that period led by Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, which noticed Spain dominate world soccer by successful the 2008 and 2012 Euros and the 2010 World Cup.
“The previous generations paved the way for us,” Rodri famous. “This success is the result of hard work, dedication, and a lot of effort. Today, we are European champions, and we won’t stop here.”
Among the group members, solely 38-year-old Jesus Navas knew what it was wish to win a significant title, having participated within the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Iniesta, scorer of Spain’s successful objective within the 2010 World Cup last, performed a minor position in mentoring the present gamers.
Morata credited Iniesta and former participant Bojan Krkic for persuading him to take part within the Euros. The Atlético Madrid striker has overtly mentioned the emotional toll of dealing with hateful feedback on social media.
Coincidentally, Iniesta, Xavi, and former Spain striker David Villa have been within the stands at Olympiastadion to witness the brand new technology of gamers add a contemporary dimension to Spain’s sport.
While Spain’s struggles have been nowhere close to as long-lasting as England’s drought since their 1966 World Cup victory, the group had entered a interval of underachievement following their Euro 2012 triumph. Attempts to uphold the possession-based “tiki-taka” model faltered with out Iniesta and firm, leaving Spain to move aimlessly in essential matches, typically exceeding 1,000 passes with few scoring alternatives.
In Germany, nonetheless, Spain unleashed new attacking weapons that left opposition defenses scrambling to maintain up.
Although traces of the nice Spain groups have been nonetheless evident, Rodri and midfielder FabiAn RuÃz showcased their capability to regulate the sport when vital.
Yet, Spain’s energy shifted to the wings.
Yamal dazzled from the fitting facet in each sport. The Barcelona ahead, who turned 17 simply earlier than the ultimate, scored a memorable objective to assist defeat France 2-1 within the semifinals and supplied his fourth help of the event to arrange Williams’ decisive objective towards England.
Williams dominated the other flank, forming an unstoppable partnership with Marc Cucurella. Cucurella supplied the move for Mikel Oyarzabal to attain the successful objective towards England.
Williams was named the Player of the Final. The Athletic Bilbao ahead, alongside Leipzig’s Dani Olmo, has enhanced their reputations and are prone to appeal to curiosity from main golf equipment.
Olmo stepped up as a starter after Pedri GonzAlez’s harm and completed as joint-top scorer of the event with three targets. He additionally made an important defensive contribution by clearing a shot off the objective line that might have pressured additional time within the last.
De la Fuente efficiently shielded his group from the controversies surrounding Spain’s soccer federation.
“Our experienced players guided our young talents to maintain composure in tough moments, creating a dynamic and joyful team,” De la Fuente remarked.
“I don’t know if anyone believed me, but from day one, I said we had the best 26 players in the world. They have always risen to the challenge.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com