Style and talent pool suggest Spain are only at the start of their reign | OneFootball

Spain completed the Euro and World Cup double, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time on Sunday. The feat echoes 2008 to 2010 and rests on control of games.

Le Progres notes that after 2010, Spain faltered at World Cups, exiting the groups in 2014 then the last 16 at the next two. Their Barcelona-inflected tiki-taka seemed to lose its edge.

They did not abandon that identity, though passing it on proved harder for a less gifted or slower-maturing crop. Appointed in 2022, Luis de la Fuente modernised it, drawing on years with Spain’s youth sides.

Euro 2024 showcased verticality through Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, yet the World Cup underlined that dictating tempo remains the soundest defence, with only one goal conceded, a record. Pedro Porro prioritised possession against France and Argentina, and Unai Simon, the tournament’s best goalkeeper, described the approach as mentally and tactically demanding.

Player development has played a major part in the revival. After beating France, De la Fuente said Spanish footballers are the best at interpreting the game and understand both phases. Given the squad profile, Spain appear well placed for more campaigns without overhauling philosophy or personnel.

They now hold four European titles and two World Cups, five this century. In four years they will be the first to defend a crown at home, with Morocco and Portugal co-hosting. Before that comes Euro 2028 in the UK, and last time a world title was followed by a European crown.

Source: Le Progres