Euro 2024: Desolation to glory! Spain’s remarkable revival

After enduring over a decade of disappointment, Spain has given their fans all the reasons to cheer after orchestrating a remarkable return to football's summit, securing a berth in Sunday's Euro 2024 final. Following their Euro wins in 2008 and 2012, alongside a World Cup victory in 2010, La Roja seemed destined for prolonged dominance. However, their decline was swift and severe.

The successors to Spain's golden generation failed to live up to expectations, culminating in a humiliating 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands during their 2014 World Cup defence. Subsequently, they crashed out in the group stage. Euro 2016 witnessed another early exit, this time at the hands of Italy in the last-16. That disappointment continued in the 2018 World Cup, where Spain fell to Russia in penalties despite dominating possession.

There was a glimmer of hope during Euro 2020 after a youthful squad reached the semis, but the agony persisted with a last-16 defeat to Morocco in the 2022 World Cup. Despite these setbacks, the Spanish Federation remained steadfast in their belief that redemption was well within their reach. They entrusted Luis de la Fuente, renowned for his successful tenure coaching national youth teams, to reignite Spain's fortunes after replacing Luis Enrique.

Fuente faced early challenges, including a disheartening 2-0 loss to Scotland, yet the side persisted with their relatively unknown coach, and their perseverance has paid dividends. Last summer, they clinched their first major trophy in 11 years by triumphing in the Nations League, laying the foundation for their Euro 2024 campaign.

This time, Spain emerged as the standout team, navigating a challenging group that included defending champions Italy, before overcoming formidable opponents in Germany and France. Their success is all the more remarkable considering their squad boasts few household names beyond Manchester City's Rodri.

The emergence of Barcelona's young talent Lamine Yamal, aged just 16, has captured the imagination of football enthusiasts worldwide, hinting at a promising future. Alongside him, Nico Williams has also shone brightly, potentially earning a move from Athletic Bilbao this summer. The team's composition includes players often dubbed as 'misfits,' such as Marc Cucurella, who struggled at Chelsea, and Saudi Arabia-based Aymeric Laporte, none of whom are standout performers at their clubs. However, this lack of individual stardom has not hindered Spain's collective strength.

In contrast to their final opponents, England, who sometimes rely heavily on struggling icons or France, centred around an underperforming Kylian Mbappe, Spain embraces an egalitarian ethos where every player is on equal footing.

Unlike his predecessor, Fuente has experimented with different tactical approaches, balancing possession-based play with the dynamic flair of Yamal and Williams, encouraging crosses and risk-taking against opponents. While previous Spain teams sought to dominate possession, Euro 2024 has seen La Roja occasionally relinquish the ball, yet their adaptability has proven key to their success.

Fuente's intimate knowledge of his players, nurtured over years of coaching various national youth teams, has been invaluable. Having previously led Spain to victory in the U19 Euros in 2013, the U21 Euros in 2019, and securing silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, he understands their strengths and weaknesses intimately. This continuity has been crucial in international football, where coaches often have limited time to implement their strategies.

"I know the players very well, what we had available to us and we needed time to do what we are seeing now. I am not surprised by it. Cooking this up... is a long process but we knew the decisions and the path we had to take." Fuente reflected, underscoring the patience and determination required to rebuild Spain's footballing identity. Their journey to the brink of glory once more epitomises the rewards of perseverance and strategic foresight in the international arena.

(With quotes from AP)