Before the EURO 2024 final against England, the last time Spain won the tournament was in 2012. That was the era of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Iker Casillas, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, and Jordi Alba.
The legends of Real Madrid and Barcelona set aside their age-old rivalry to unite into a formidable force. They won three major tournaments in a row (EURO 2008, World Cup 2010, EURO 2012), an unprecedented feat in football history.
This time, in 2024, things were different, but not because Spain lacked superstars. Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Dani Carvajal, and Marc Cucurella all had outstanding tournaments. However, La Roja's EURO 2024 victory came from the strength of the collective rather than the brilliance of individual players.
Spain not only won the tournament but also won all 7 matches, 6 of which were victories in regular time. This is a feat no other team in the history of the competition has ever achieved.
In La Roja's success, coach Luis de la Fuente played an extremely important role. He has been involved with Spanish football for over a decade in various roles and at different levels. He also has a deep understanding of his players, as many of the players in the Spanish squad that won EURO 2024 had previously played alongside De la Fuente at the U21 and U19 levels.
That's why they always remain calm and rarely waver. They have ideas, they have belief, and ultimately they win. That belief was challenged by Gareth Southgate's England in the first half when the Three Lions tried to slow the pace of the game. Up until the end of the first 45 minutes, it seemed that the goalkeepers of both teams didn't have to do too much work.
However, under all circumstances, even after Rodri left the field, La Roja remained true to their original plan. The reward was Spain's opening goal, scored by Nico Williams. It was the familiar formula: Yamal delivered a sharp pass into the penalty area for another player to finish.
Southgate then made some changes and was rewarded with an equalizer from Cole Palmer. The England fans behind goalkeeper Unai Simon's goal began to cheer, forming waves of people.
Unlike Southgate, De la Fuente was much calmer, maintaining his faith in his players even as England dominated the game. In fact, Yamal had at least two clear chances to seal the victory but unfortunately missed both. However, in the end, Mikel Oyarzabal – who came on as a substitute for Alvaro Morata – scored at the right moment in the 68th minute.
Of course, the Spanish players' efforts throughout the 90 minutes must be acknowledged. But it was De la Fuente who nurtured that effort, and the result came as a natural consequence.
Many believe that success at a tournament like the EURO is often a matter of luck due to its short duration. However, look at how Spain dominated, remained calm, and displayed determination throughout the tournament in Germany.
England boasts stars with a combined value of over £1 billion, but they lack ideas and identity, something Spain has demonstrated so well.
Source: https://laodong.vn/bong-da-quoc-te/tay-ban-nha-vo-dich-euro-2024-ban-sac-va-suc-manh-tap-the-1366545.ldo
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