Georgia coach Willy Sagnol spoke for the managers of Turkey, Bulgaria, France, Germany, England and lots of others when he sighed with melancholy resignation and proclaimed: “Spain do not simply play on one other world, they play from a distinct universe.”
The Frenchman, who received the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich and was a FIFA World Cup runner-up in 2006, had simply seen Spain’s “C” group threaten to place eight or 9 targets previous Georgia. Then, days later, La Roja smashed Bulgaria for one more 4 to equal their all-time unbeaten run (29) in aggressive matches.
“All-time” signifies that this squad has simply matched the very best undefeated run set by the Spain of Iker Casillas, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Carles Puyol, Jordi Alba, Sergio Ramos, David Villa and Fernando Torres.
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And what’s exceptional about Luis de la Fuente’s present model of Spain is that they maintain getting stripped of their elite abilities … however win and thrill anyway.
For instance, of their final two World Cup qualifying matches Spain might have fashioned an XI from the next absent gamers:
Goalkeepers: Joan García, David de Gea
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, Pau Torres, Nacho, Alejandro Balde, Iñigo Martínez
Midfielders: Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Marc Casadó, Gavi, Fermín López, Dani Olmo, Isco
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Álvaro Morata, Ayoze Pérez, Joselu, Nico Williams
That, people, is a group (prune it all the way down to your favourite XI) which might beat any rival and win any match. However they had been all, for one purpose or one other, absent from Spain’s final two victories.
Throw in Ferran Torres, absent from the squad to face Bulgaria as a result of he had a muscle pressure, and that is 20 top-class footballers.
Be sincere. What number of different nations might lose that many main footballers, a few of whom are the very best on the planet of their place, and nonetheless thrive? Who might nonetheless romp previous groups who need to defend for his or her lives and frustrate an understrength “huge group”?
I feel that the reply is: completely no one.
No different worldwide group might give you so many options towards a backdrop of talent-drain and nonetheless look — at instances — unbeatable.
On Saturday, down on Spain’s south-eastern coast, if it hadn’t been for Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili placing on yet one more masterclass towards the European champions, the scoreline would have been 8-0 or 9-0.
That sparked this reply after I requested Sagnol — as an ex world-class defender and long-time coach — exactly why it’s, in his view, that Spain aren’t solely superior however seem to have limitless depth?
“Do you keep in mind within the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties — Spain had been good, they performed effectively however they did not win issues?” he stated. “What you see now could be a product of 20-25 years good planning and follow by the Spanish FA. Take [Barcelona midfielder] Pedri for example. He is what: about 5 kilograms? He seems to be as if he’d blow away if a robust wind acquired up.
“However he is one of many two or three finest gamers on the planet, finest in his place, as a result of he is so clever. All the things he does is for the group, driving them ahead, providing for the ball, discovering house, creating house.
“Spain produces so many gamers with soccer intelligence — that is the particular factor. Have a look at it immediately; that they had six or seven prime gamers lacking and also you would not have observed. They play precisely the identical approach and on the identical stage. And so they maintain producing these fantastic, football-intelligent gamers.”
Spain’s file previously 4 years reads: UEFA European Championship semifinal (2021), Olympic silver medal (2021), UEFA Nations League runner-up (2021), World Cup spherical of 16 (2022), Nations League winners (2023), European Championship winners (2024), Olympic gold medal (2024), Nations League finalists (2025).
If this was a racehorse who’d positioned third, second, second, ninth, first, first, first, and second, the stud-value could be off the charts and punters could be betting of their hundreds of thousands that this stunning beast could be a cert to win the large one subsequent summer time.
To emphasise Sagnol’s level, De la Fuente has used at the least 63 gamers throughout that run. Lots of these are footballers who different judges — throughout the sport, from the media and amongst followers — thought could not lower it on the highest stage however at the moment are established worldwide mainstays.
I managed to talk to Leeds United‘s organizing midfielder Ilia Gruev after Spain’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria on Tuesday, and he was equally eloquent concerning the world’s main soccer nation.
“It’s totally, very powerful towards Spain since you do not even get in duels,” he stated. “You’ll be able to’t even make a deal with or get shut as a result of they transfer it [the ball] so shortly.
“They’re very clever footballers. They play simple and sensible which, for me, is the very best anybody can play. Everyone is aware of what to do and it’s extremely powerful towards them. You defend the entire time after which instantly you win the ball and also you’re exhausted. That you must have the ball simply to breathe somewhat bit.
“Once I watch Spain play I take pleasure in it. It seems to be simple and other people assume that is the reality however it’s not. It’s totally arduous to do what they do.”
However, like Sagnol appropriately identified — it is a course of. Yearly, Spain’s FA begins with the 14-to-15-year-old age group, selects the very best 55 gamers from that era after which begins to mould them. Ways, self-discipline, unity, accountability.
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Once I spoke to the then youth coordinator on the Spanish FA, Ginés Melendéz he informed me: “From the minute the lads arrive aged 15, proper up till they’re 20 or 21, we work with them in precisely the identical approach, with the identical coaching drills, till they change into computerized. The boys arrive with loads of expertise however now we have to offer them order. That is the 2 issues which defines our soccer: order and expertise.”
Which partially explains why, when Spain’s key footballers are absent, somebody merely steps up and does the identical factor.
“We’re a household,” Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino stated Tuesday night time after scoring twice towards Bulgaria.
As a substitute of taking the dying minutes penalty, which could have given him a hat trick, Merino handed the ball to Mikel Oyarzabal who scored his thirteenth aim of the De la Fuente reign. The strike made it eight targets and 5 assists, plus a European Championship final-winning aim to his title, in his previous 13 Spain matches. Is it a coincidence that he and De la Fuente have been working collectively since Oyarzabal was 19? And that the striker seems to be 3 times the participant with Spain that he does at Actual Sociedad? I feel not.
Sagnol, in fact, supplied the final phrase on La Roja’s supremacy: “Spain and Portugal are the 2 soccer fashions proper now that each different nation ought to be seeking to study from and replica.”
He is proper, however he stated it with a sigh and a tragic face. He and his Georgia group had simply been by means of the Spain expertise and are available out battered and bruised — however stuffed with admiration — on the opposite aspect.
