Rarely in the past decade and a half have Spain arrived at a major international tournament with so little fanfare. Theirs has been a muted build-up, not talked up as one of the favourites, despite being the nation to have most recently won a European trophy.
This new-look Spain tasted glory by claiming the Uefa Nations League title last summer — and although it is second fiddle in terms of European international competition, they did have to overcome Italy and Croatia to lift the trophy, which may bode well at Euro 2024.
Nevertheless, not too much significance has been placed on Spain’s recent trophy acquisition. That’s because in the heat of a full-on tournament, they have been found wanting. Since winning three tournaments in a row — world champions in 2010, either side of Euros successes — it has been tough going for La Roja.
In 2014, 2016 and 2018, Spain did not win a knockout game. At the last European Championship they reached the semi-finals where, despite defeat, they played superbly against Italy but lost on penalties. However, 18 months ago they fell at the first knockout hurdle again with a round-of-16 exit at the hands of Morocco at the World Cup.
It is easy to understand why Spain are not mentioned in the same breath as the likes of France, England and Germany ahead of this latest tournament.
Trying to prove the doubters wrong is Luis de la Fuente, the former Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla full-back who had minimal elite managerial experience when he replaced Luis Enrique as national team manager after the World Cup.
It is fair to say that scepticism greeted the 62-year-old’s appointment. He was relatively unknown even in Spain having not coached at the top level in the domestic game, instead spending years coaching the nation’s youth squads. Doubts concerning his credentials quickly arose.
Losing a Euro qualifier to Scotland, in what was labelled one of Spain’s biggest humiliations in recent years, was far from an ideal start. Many thought he lacked the experience to take charge of the national team given his only prior experience in the senior game came with the B team of Athletic Bilbao, in Spain’s third division.
That Nations League win bided De la Fuente time, and emphatic victories over Georgia (7-1) and Cyprus (6-0) helping secure La Seleccion’s place at Euro 2024 brought further respite.
Yet, a man of the establishment, and a very different character to his more irritable and controversial predecessor, De la Fuente has been tainted by the Luis Rubiales scandal within the Spanish Football Federation.
The former RFEF president appointed De la Fuente before being forced out of office due to his handling of the incident with Jennifer Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup final. An unwanted association with Rubiales is still something De la Fuente is attempting to shrug off.
Tiki taka with a twist
It is therefore on the pitch in Germany that De la Fuente is trying to properly set out his stall as Spain manager, even if he is over a year and a half into the role.
He has tried to address the perceived issue of Spain’s recent tournament exits when they were heavy on possession but lacked a certain cutting edge. His tiki taka with a twist, however, remains remarkably similar to previous versions.
That said, a 5-1 win over Northern Ireland in their final warm-up friendly last week did raise pre-tournament confidence. Not least because Pedri scored his first goals for the national team.
The 21-year-old’s 20th Spain appearance, despite making his debut in 2021, and only his second since the World Cup highlights the injury troubles the Barcelona midfielder has gone through. Seven different muscle injuries over the past three seasons mean the young player of the tournament at the last Euros has struggled for rhythm. There are signs that his talents are now coming to the fore more.
And De la Fuente has not been shy in placing faith in young players. The skilful Nico Williams received a debut during a season to remember for Athletic whilst Pedri’s club team-mate, Lamine Yamal, is tipped to be one of the breakout players in Germany.
The 16-year-old starlet will become the youngest player in the tournament’s history as he does not turn 17 until July 13. After making his Barcelona debut aged just 15, Yamal is already the youngest player to score in a La Liga game and to start a Champions League match.
The exuberance of youth will provide the excitement for Spain over the next few weeks whereas the team’s spine is made up of more experienced internationals such as Unai Simon, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri and captain Alvaro Morata.
This Spain squad may lack the big names of old but Pedri has said that their strength is their unity. “The greatest asset we have is that we are a team, we are a family both on and off the field,” he said. “The leader is the team as a whole.”
There is no easing into this tournament either for De la Fuente’s men. They find themselves in a tough group featuring Croatia and Italy — two sides that De la Fuente has already registered scalps over in the Nations League triumph a year ago — along with Albania.
Winning their opening game against Croatia on Saturday would certainly provide an early Iberian boost. However, defeat would be testing for a manager still fielding off the doubters and a promising squad trying to get closer to the golden days of yesteryear.
