Cast your mind back to EURO 2012. Neighbouring countries Poland and Ukraine hosted a tournament that saw Vicente del Bosque’s Spain, captained by Iker Casillas, demolish Euro 2024 groupmates Italy 4-0 in one of the best international final performances of all time.
Goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata guided La Roja to a third European Championship win, the joint most of any club to have competed in the competition, along with Germany. del Bosque’s side became the first to win successive Euros following their 1-0 win over Germany in the 2008 tournament.
Whilst only Jesús Navas remains of the players from that squad, Luis de la Fuente will be hoping to reep similar rewards with what is an exciting, young, and extraordinarily talented squad.
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Will de la Fuente succeed in first senior international tournament?
Following an early managerial career in the regional Spanish divisions and Segunda División B, de la Fuente was appointed manager of Spain’s Under-19 side in 2013, leading La Rojita to European Championship victory in Greece, beating Russia 2-0.
Promoted to the Under-21 side in July 2018, he once again led his side to silverware in the 2019 Championships in Italy, defeating Germany 1-0. His Under-21 side took the place of the Spanish senior side for a pre Euro 2020 friendly against Lithuania, following covid isolations for the entire first team squad, winning by four goals to nil. His 2020 Olympic games side won silver in Tokyo, losing 2-1 to Brazil in the final.
In December 2022, de la Fuente took the reins at the helm of the Spanish National Team, as Luis Enrique resigned following penalty shootout heartbreak at the hands of Morocco in the 2022 World Cup.
His contract runs until this Summer’s tournament, so the Spaniard will be hoping to demonstrate that he is the man to lead La Roja for years to come.
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Spain’s journey to Euro 2024
Spain finished top of Qualification Group A, winning seven and losing just one game to the hands of runners up Scotland, a 2-0 defeat at Hampden Park.
de la Fuente’s side scored 25 goals, conceding just 5 across their 8 qualifying games, with Alvaro Morata and Joselu joint top scorers on 4 goals.
The opening qualifying game against Norway resulted in a 3-0 victory, followed by the loss to Scotland. The next of their qualifying games saw back to back wins against Georgia and Cyprus, 7-1 and 6-0 respectively. In the return fixture against Scotland, Spain got their revenge, winning 2-0 in Seville.
Further wins against Norway (1-0), Cyprus (1-3) and Georgia (3-1) rounded off an incredibly efficient qualifying stage.
In the entirety of 2023, Spain played ten games, winning nine and losing just one, which included celebrations after winning the UEFA Nations League, a 5-4 penalty win over fellow Euro 2024 groupmates Croatia, where veteran defender Dani Carvajal scored the decisive spot kick in Rotterdam.
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Player to Watch
La Roja’s squad is a blend of experienced internationals, winners at club level and raw, exciting youth. Whilst there is no debate that the best Spanish player at the Euros is Manchester City’s defensive midfield Rolls Royce Rodri, the player to watch plays for a certain German club who came within one game of an unimaginable invincible treble.
Álex Grimaldo has, quite simply, been the best attacking left back in the world this season. With 10 goals and 13 assists in 33 Bundesliga games for Bayer Leverkusen, persistent European football viewers will be more than aware of Grimaldo’s ability.
Seven years at Benfica saw Grimaldo win nine trophies, including four league titles. Whilst his output was strong across his time in Portugal, his free transfer to Leverkusen has seen his numbers, and his price tag, increase tenfold.
Across 303 appearances for Benfica, Grimaldo scored 27 and assisted 66 goals. In just 51 games for Leverkusen, he has notched 12 goals and 19 assists. Set piece ability, long range striking and clinical finishing have seen the 28-year-old play a vital role in Leverkusen’s first Bundesliga title.
Statistically, Grimaldo’s superiority when compared to those in his position is clear to see. He ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals, expected goals, assists and expected assists amongst all fullbacks, meaning that he is outperforming 99% of players in these positions.
Shots and shot creating actions also rank in the high 90s too, but perhaps the most interesting statistic is Grimaldo’s 8.3 progressive passes received per 90 minutes. For Leverkusen, his role is to play high and wide, acting as an outlet for Xabi Alonso’s progressive, direct play. If de la Fuente is able to allow Grimaldo the freedom to create, he will undoubtedly be one of the most exciting players at the tournament.
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Predicted Lineup
de la Fuente has opted for either a 4-2-3-1 with two deeper lying midfielders behind a fluid, rotational trio, or a 4-3-3 with a flat midfield three. In order to get the best players starting in their best positions, Spain should stick with a 4-2-3-1.
Unai Simon (Athletic Club); Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr), Álex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen); Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona); Nico Williams JR (Athletic Club), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid)
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The Group
Group B has been called as an early contender for ‘Group of Death’ status in this edition of the tournament. Albania topped qualifying group E on goal difference, but with no win since October 2023, Sylvinho’s side could prop up the rest of Group B.
Croatia have been dark horses at past tournaments but, with an ageing squad, may be approaching their decline. Spain demolished Zlatko Dalić’s side 5-3 in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020, winning in four of the seven matchups between the nations since 2012.
Spain’s final Group B opponent is somewhat an old rival. Italy have knocked Spain out of the last two Euros. A 4-2 penalty win in the semi-final of Euro 2020, where Gli Azzurri went on to lift the trophy at Wembley against England. In 2016, it was a Round of 16 win for then manager Antonio Conte’s side, goals from Graziano Pellè and Giorgio Chiellini.
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How will Spain get on?
Spain’s team is a whole lot better than people are giving it credit for. Whilst it would not be wise to predict them to win the entire tournament, there is a good chance that by the end of the group stages this side may have turned heads.
The absence of Barcelona starlet Gavi due to injury is a huge miss, but the progression of players such as Yamal, Williams JR and the superb Pedri, along with the security of experienced players such as Mikel Merino, Rodri and Laporte could see this side thrive.
It's looking likely that La Roja could make it to the quarter-finals but there is then the potential to be outdone by a side with slightly better strength in depth and overall quality.
