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When one thinks of Spain's style of play, things like quick passes, organised and free-flowing movement and team chemistry come to mind. Moving the ball around the pitch is the quickest way to get from one's own goal to the opponent's. Spain have consistently proven that.
The Spanish team of the late 2000s and early 2010s, built from players playing for one of Real Madrid or Barcelona, was synonymous with this 'tiki-taka' style. So much so that it has become the blueprint for how Spain play now.
Spain dominated world football between 2008 and 2012, winning two consecutive UEFA Euros and one FIFA World Cup. The core group had Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol, David Villa, Fernando Torres, Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos. These players were part of one of the most successful and dominant eras of any national team.
However, Spain were sent home from the group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and managed only the Round of 16 in 2018. In the Euros, Spain reached the Round of 16 in 2016 and the semi-finals in 2020, losing to eventual champions Italy.
La Roja have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and have a young and exciting pool of players to pick from. With the retirement of several stars, there are many spots up for grabs.
On that note, here's a look at five players who have the calibre to step up and claim their spot in the Spain senior team. These superstars have had strong starts to their careers at a young age and look destined for greatness. Without further ado, let's get started:
#5 Brahim Diaz (AC Milan, two-year loan from Real Madrid)
Brahim Abdelkader Diaz was born in Malaga, Spain, in 1999, and joined his hometown club's youth academy in 2010. He stayed with Malaga for five years before moving to Manchester City in 2015 for £200,000. Diaz made his senior debut for City in 2016 in an EFL Cup tie against Swansea City.
Diaz made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League in 2017 against Feyenoord. He played his first Premier League game against Newcastle in 2018. He went on a short goalscoring run towards the end of 2018, notably scoring both goals in City's 2-0 win over Fulham in November that year.
Intense speculation about a move materialised after his improving performances, and Diaz was signed by Real Madrid in January 2019 for £15.5 million. He made his league debut soon after against Real Betis in a 2-1 win. Diaz provided an assist for Isco, a player whom he had watched as a ball-boy at Malaga, capping off an incredible rise to the top.
Diaz is now on loan at AC Milan in a deal that expires in 2023. The loan has a buy-out option, should his host club decide to make his deal permanent.
Diaz has made 27 appearances for Spain's youth teams, scoring six goals. He was widely acclaimed as one of the best players at the 2016 UEFA U-17 Euros.
Diaz was also called up to the senior team in June 2021, owing to a spate of positive COVID-19 tests in the camp. He made his senior debut against Lithuania, and scored in Spain's 4-0 win.
Brahim Diaz has now found his goalscoring form of old at Milan. He will look to make a mark and stay in and around the Spanish squad for the future.
#4 Bryan Gil (Tottenham Hotspur)
Bryan Gil Salvatierra was born in Spain in 2001, and spent most of his youth career at Sevilla (2012-2018). He was promoted to Sevilla B (reserve team), and made his debut for them in August 2018 in a 0-1 loss against UD Ibiza. He scored his first senior goal in September 2018, netting the equaliser in a 2-1 home win over San Fernando CD.
Gil made his first-team debut in 2019 in a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid. The following January, he was sent out on loan to CD Leganes, where he scored in a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid on the final day of the season.
In 2021, Gil signed for Tottenham Hotspur in a part-exchange deal that saw Erik Lamela and £21.6 million going the other way. So far, Gil has made just five appearances for Spurs.
A short montage of his dribbling skills can be seen below:
Gil has played a staggering 42 games for Spain across youth levels, scoring two goals. He was part of the Spain squad that won the 2019 UEFA U-19 Euros in Armenia. He also won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with Spain losing in the final to Brazil.
In March 2021, Gil received his first call-up to the senior side. He made his debut the same month in a 1-1 draw against Greece.
Gil's ability to drive from the flanks and provide pin-point passes or crosses in dangerous areas makes him a valuable addition to any team. Luis Enrique will have his eyes on how the youngster develops at Spurs under Antonio Conte.
#3 Yeremi Pino (Villarreal)
Yeremi Jesus Pino Santos was born in Las Palmas, Spain, in 2002, and began his youth career with Huracan in 2011. He later had a short spell at his hometown club Las Palmas between 2014 and 2017, before joining Villarreal's academy in 2017. Pino was handed his professional debut in the UEFA Europa League, in a 5-3 win over Sivasspor by Unai Emery.
His first professional goal, too, came in the Europa League. Pino netted the equaliser in a 3-1 win over Qarabag. In May 2021, Yeremi Pino became the youngest Spain player to start a European final, aged 19 years and four days. He also became the youngest player to win the Europa League, breaking Robin van Persie's record set in 2002.
Yeremi Pino has made 38 appearances for Spain across youth levels, scoring eight goals. He was the captain of Spain U-18s for a brief period.
Pino was called up to Spain's senior squad in June 2021 following a spate of positive COVID-19 tests in the camp. He made his debut in October that year in the UEFA Nations League semi-final against Italy.
Pino's ball progression and ability to exploit the space behind defenders makes him a lethal presence in the final third. That is something Spain have lacked since Fernando Torres and David Villa. Perhaps, Pino could be one of the players who resolves that issue.
#2 Ansu Fati (Barcelona)
Anssumane 'Ansu' Fati Vieira was born in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, in 2002. He moved to Herrera, Seville, at the age of six when his older brother Braima signed for Sevilla. Fati began his youth career with local club Herrera in 2009, before moving to Sevilla in 2010. However, he spent most of his youth career at Barcelona (2012-19).
Fati signed his first professional contract at Barcelona in 2019, and debuted for the first team in La Liga even before representing the reserves. He came on as a late substitute, becoming Barcelona second-youngest player (16 years and 298 days) after Vicenc Martinez in 1941.
Ansu Fati made several other such records, becoming Barcelona's youngest player in the Champions League (16 years, 321 days), youngest in La Liga history to score and assist in the same game (16 years, 318 days) and also the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Champions League history (17 years, 40 days).
Fati has represented Spain at U-21 level in two games, and did not make any appearances for Guinea-Bissau. He was granted Spanish citizenship in 2019.
Ansu Fati received his first call-up to the senior side in August 2020 when he was called up for two games in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League. He made his debut a few weeks later in September in a 1-1 draw against Germany.
Fati is one of Barcelona's marquee players. Like their legends of the past, he too could become a mainstay in the Spain team for years to come.
#1 Pedri (Barcelona)
Pedro Gonzalez Lopez, simply known as Pedri, was born in Tegueste, Spain, in 2002. He began his youth career with his local club. Pedri then had a short spell at Juventud Laguna (2015-18) before signing up for Las Palmas' academy in 2018. In July 2019, aged only 16, Pedri signed his first professional contract with Las Palmas.
He scored his first professional goal in a 1-0 victory against Sporting Gijon in September 2019. That made him (16 years, nine months, 23 days) Las Palmas' youngest-ever goalscorer. Pedri ranked first in many other key stats that season, including minutes played, big chances created and dribbles completed.
Pedri then moved to Barcelona on a two-year contract in 2019 in a deal worth €5 million. He made his La Liga debut in September 2020 in a 4-0 home win against Villarreal. A month later, Pedri was on the scoresheet for the first time as a senior Barcelona player. He scored on his UEFA Champions League debut in a 5-1 win over Ferencvaros.
He recently won the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player in the world, by France Football.
Pedri appeared 18 times for Spain's youth teams, scoring a solitary goal. In 2021, he was included in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for the Euros. That made him the youngest player to represent Spain in the competition, aged 18 years and six months.
Pedri was named the Young Player of the Tournament, and was also the only player from Spain in the Team of the Tournament.
He is one of the most promising players in world football. He is hard-working, intelligent and patient, and has the maturity to know when to press or drop. Often described as a winger, Pedri plays a free role in left-central midfield. He is the ideal playmaker to build a team around.
Considering the same, he could well be a key player for La Roja in the years to come.
