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Spanish football is not the most pleasing for people. It was the case then, it is the case now. In Spain, technicality is preferred more over the robust physical type of game, that is visible in England. The Premier League has always been the number 1 league in Europe. The fan following and marketing in EPL is unreal. Still, EPL is not the place where you find aesthetic football. EPL is action packed, end to end football, combined with the flurry of attacks. Spain has been different. That being said, English football hasn't left a mark in football history. The big physical type of play has been far from enough to trouble the German and Spanish oppositions as of late. Spain though has football in its veins.
They have seen it all. From the finals of the World Cup to the exit in group stages. From being invincible to being just another underdog, Spanish football has had its up and downs. A transition phase, with great stars leaving the team and advent of young blood, Spain has gone through it all. As of late, Spanish football and Spanish teams are enjoying high amount of success in Europe.
Spain has been lucky enough to witness the two greatest players on earth at the same time. Spain has given rise to match which brings the world to a standstill. The national team might not have had the success that is expected from them, as of late. But that is what makes it even more enjoyable, a world in which you always have something to fight for. For a better insight into the current scenario, we have to turn back the clock, to where it all began.
2008-12: Golden Spanish Generation
The Spanish Team, a decade ago, a strong 11 with no strong 1s. No individual stars, no talismanic players, certainly not crowd favorites. They didn't have a player around whom a team was built. They weren't fiery attackers like Brazil. Also they didn't have individual stars like Messi and Ronaldo. Perhaps due to these reasons, Spain was not loved by neutrals. But looking back at Spain, it must be said, they exemplified football. From 2008 to 2012, winning everything there was to win. The Spanish football reached the heights, which any nation would want their team to reach. They were a team which proved Johan Cruyff's infamous quote.
"Even with the best players in their respective positions, does not guarantee a strong 11, it just makes 11 strong 1s" . - Johan Cruyff
It was not Vicente Del Bosque’s coaching in the first place. Del Bosque’s tactics, were a perfect fit, no doubt. But he was forced to go with those tactics. Nobody forced him, but the Spanish side then, having the best midfield trio of Xavi-Busquets-Iniesta, David Villa upfront, Puyol and Pique guarding the defences, it was almost an alter ego of Barcelona. With the quality that Del Bosque had at his disposal, with the telepathy that these players possessed, Del Bosque had little choice but to implement the Barcelona style in Spain.
During 2008-12, Spain played fluid football. Passing the ball around, retaining possession, letting the full backs advance, pressing up high, building through the middle and passing with a purpose. Xavi always dictated the pace of the play, Iniesta helped him create magical through balls, and Villa and Torres came up with the finishing touches. Spain solidified their defense, with Puyol always keeping his accomplices on their heels.
During their World Cup 2010 campaign, Spain might have lost one game. But they were absolutely brutal in knockout stages. They racked up their wins. They didn’t sit back after their goals, they attacked purposefully. Even in the Euro Cup that followed, Spain was even more poignant. They dismantled Italy in the finals of the tournament. Pedro, Villa, Torres every player at their level best. 2012 Euros was perhaps the last tournament in which we saw Spain making a statement, on a global level.
After the champions’ curse struck Spain in Brazil, they had to undergo a complete rebuilding phase. Players who were instrumental in previous campaigns, including Puyol, Villa and Xavi all had to leave. Talent in Spain wasn’t lacking though. Ramos adapted to a new center-back role, so well in fact, that he is now one of the best center-backs in the world. But with Xavi gone and nobody to dictate the tempo, the possession football style wasn’t as strong. Del Bosque’s tactical awareness wasn’t as strong after he lost the heart of the team, Xavi Hernandez. His defenses weakened, in absence of Puyol, and finally, Del Bosque’s weak tactical approach was being exposed. He failed to use Thiago Alcantara to his fullest in Xavi’s absence, while he played amazingly at Barcelona then and Bayern now.
Julen Lopetegui and Spain: The movie which didn't release
Spain approached Julen Lopetegui, to take over the managerial duties from Del Bosque. Lopetegui wanted to keep possession football alive. He had a long-term vision and he tried to build his squad for the 2018 World Cup. Lopetegui’s Spain were always on the attack. He was well aware of the defensive errors that come from fatigue, and thus his attacking instructions left Pique and Ramos at little ease. He got Spain well rounded as a team. They made some amazing exchange of passes in the final third. The fullbacks Alba and Carvajal pushed up the flanks, while midfielders crowded in the middle, trying to expose a player free.
Lopetegui’s Spain was always on to the right track for the World Cup. He instilled his team with in-form players always, very open to changes, which wasn’t seen under Del Bosque. Lopetegui used the full potential of young players, like Iago Aspas, Isco Alarcon, Nacho and Marco Asensio. The Argentina versus Spain game, prior to the World Cup, gave full insights into the talent of Spain. They flanked the wings, retained possession, tried to win back the ball as soon as they lose it. Spain completely outclassed, a Messi-less Argentina, in a merciless 6-0 rout.
Lopetegui though chose to sign a Real Madrid contract, two days before the World Cup. All the hard work he had done, just to get the balance right, all down the drain in one moment. Spain sacked Lopetegui, one day before the spectacle of football began. Lopetegui and Spain were all set for the World Cup, in full throttle, but Lopetegui’s decision to sign the contract and Real Madrid’s blunder of announcing it before the World Cup was a complete disarray.
Fernando Hierro and Spain: A ship without course
In the rush of the hour, Spain appointed Fernando Hierro as their head coach. Their World Cup campaign was dismal, to say the least. Teams like Argentina and Germany came under heavy criticism for their respective campaigns. Spain was just lucky enough to escape from it. Their group stage was a total disappointment.
They had complete superiority over Portugal, in terms of midfield and defense. Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a point away from Spain, thanks to defensive lapses which were completely uncalled for. The tackle by Pique just outside the box, Nacho bringing Ronaldo down in the box, when he knew CR7 would look to go down. The second goal of Cristiano, largely owing to the defense not closing down on him and also David De Gea’s untimely mistake. Spain was a dictionary of mistakes that day.
Spain paid for their lack of game awareness as Ronaldo stepped up under pressure and hit the freekick with the utmost subtlety. Even in the following games, they weren’t up to the mark. They scraped past Iran with a goal. In their final group game, their lackluster defense almost knocked them out. They went from leading by a goal to conceding two from a spirited Morocco team. Spain barely escaped a scare, thanks to Iago Aspas’ late equalizer.
Their elimination from the World Cup just came earlier than expected from the hands of an unexpected opponent. The tactics of Hierro didn’t make any sense. No threatening attacks, no dragging defenses out of shape, no attempts to score more goals and also weak at the back. They got a goal thanks to the own goal, against Russia. But they still weren’t aware of the game, Pique handed a ball which could have easily been cleared.
Throughout the game, Spain just passed for the sake of passing. No purpose could be seen. Russia held their defensive line, they weren’t falling for the passing trap. They didn’t commit towards the short passes. If a sensible coach would have seen that, he would have tried to exploit the spaces out wide, with quick pass moves. Hierro just wanted to pass, Spain passed and passed, they tried to switch wings. What use was that? Sideways passing never does any damage. Russia wanted a penalty shootout, they got one. Spain and their tactics are to blame for it. They played Tiki-Taka for the first time in their history maybe. Yes. Tiki Taka is not what Barcelona played, they mixed it up with real purpose. Spain passed for the sake of passing, which is the real tiki-taka, you have to pass no matter what.
Hierro and his team were stagnant at the midfield while having great creators like Isco and Iniesta and finishers like Costa up for prowl. They didn’t even try a lob or through ball to drag defense out of shape.
Their unreal pass map and heavy touches near midfield accounted for nothing. Aesthetically a very beautiful pass map, but as is evident, side passes are all that it has. Players are more or less occupying the same positions, weak positional play. A lot of touches, which has no attacking intent. Spain didn’t give a good farewell, to the man that scored the most important goal in their history. Iniesta was forced to look away from goal in pain, as Akinfeev saved the penalty from Aspas.
Spain and Lucho: A new era begins
The tactics of Hierro, clearly under par, didn’t impress the Royal Federation of Espana Football and they searched for a replacement. Who better to coach Spain than the man who has been on both sides of the Clasico, who has played and scored in the Clasico and also coached a team for the Clasico.
Spain appointed Luis Enrique as their new coach. Enrique coached Barcelona to a treble in his first managerial season. Enrique’s Barcelona played sleek, attractive football and their final third attacks combining Neymar, Suarez, and Messi was a masterclass. In his three seasons at Barcelona, Enrique won 8 out of a possible 12 trophies.
Luis Enrique has had two games in charge of Spain and he has shown promising signs. Being a Barcelona lover, that he is, he had no intentions of being partial. He named his squad with young talents like Saul, Ceballos, Marcos Alonso and Gaya.
He didn’t hesitate in leaving Jordi Alba out. He called up Sergi Roberto, for his performances with Barca. It tells that, he knows his players inside out. He substituted Busquets in 59 minutes, he is not afraid to take a veteran out of his position thus he trusts all his players.
The way Enrique is keeping things within the squad is good. He has managed to keep them as a cohesive unit, as it was evident from their games. He hasn’t allowed mobile phones at meal times and training according to reports. It will only help Spain increase their connectivity within the team.
Enrique has not only revamped Spain’s training, but he has also revamped their play. In their game with Croatia, Spain held 71% possession, not only that, the burst through the wings quite often. The players looked much more confident on the ball.
Their defence was airtight and not many Croatian attacks got through, they had only one shot on target. Spain passed around, this time with purpose. They attacked with poise, coming close several times, scoring 6 times.
Marco Asensio unleashed a whole new avatar of his, he dribbled with confidence and cut in to shoot with perfection. Asensio hasn’t played this way for Spain till now. His long shot taking ability will be useful against teams who overload the box. Spain completely neutralised Modric and Rakitic. The much acclaimed Croatia midfield didn’t even see the ball much. All supplies to the midfield were cut off. Lucho with sheer tactical brilliance.
All in all, Lucho has started his spell with the Spanish side exactly as he did with Barcelona. Players blooming with confidence, playing like a team with brilliant cohesiveness. Wing backs are striding forward with purpose, there are attempts to make forward plays. If Spain and Lucho keep these plays coming, the La Roja will be in perfect shape for EURO 2020.
It is time that the old Spanish style of football comes back, and La Roja has the quality to attain those high standards, that people set them.
Foot Note:
Reading pass maps
i)Thicker lines show the number of completed passes.
ii)The dot appears on the position which was occupied more by the player
iii)Bigger the dot size more the number of touches.
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