Recently, I have wondered and pondered on how the Spanish National team lost its world dominance. But before I delve into the details, I would love to applaud the outstanding Pete of this wonderful platform, this is another great contest of his that has given me the leverage of posting my thoughts and expressing my ideas about a certain subject. These contests are for users/writers in the Scorum platform to pour out their thoughts in words and stretch their thinking ability.. Check out the link below...
https://scorum.com/en-us/other/@pete/happy-moan-day-october-15th
THE CONQUERORS!!!
Was I the only person that watched Spain win 2002 world cup finalists Germany in the 2008 European Championship final? Was I the only person that watched Spain win the same Germany in the 2010 World cup semi-finals and win an inspiring Netherlands side, forwarded by a brilliant Arjen Robben and an in-form Wesley Sneidjer in the final to lift the greatest competition in the world of football? Am I the only person that watched Spain match on to win another European Championship in 2012, making them consecutive European conquerors? Was I? I don't think so. I am quite certain most football lovers watched on with me as this team conquered Europe and the world for half a decade.
Surprisingly, that same Spanish team are no longer the force they once were, to add salt to injury, Netherlands had their revenge.
It is quite apparent that Spain wouldn't have been dominant with those titles without the aforementioned trio, the same trio marked with green in the picture above. Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, these three played very crucial roles in the triumph of the Spanish team those years, they mixed flair with experience, they proved to the world that football is mainly played in the midfield. They made this fact evident with their master class displays in the midfield, they showed maturity, class and consistency with their displays in every game, proving the theory "When the centre cannot hold, every other thing falls apart" right,, these trio barely had an off game. The Spanish team wasn't much of a high scoring side, but they will certainly come out with a win. They rely more on their mid fielders than their strikers, their strength lies in their ability to frustrate and tire out players with exquisite passes and ball retention, when it is obvious the opponents are tired, they push out for a goal. Just like a football official stated, "The more you have the ball, the lesser your opponents chances of scoring" , it was so Spain, for they were a good possession minded team. Although, their play was a result of having more Barcelona team players in the squad, a Barcelona team also conquering both domestic and international titles as at that time with almost the same pattern. Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets were all from the Barcelona team and they brought along with them to the Spanish team, the Barcelona pattern, popularly called TIKI TAKA. It worked wonders for the Spanish team as Xavi and Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso were mainly the passers while Iniesta was the carrier, they were simply a joy to watch.
WHAT EXACTLY IS SPAIN'S PROBLEM???
Fast-forward few years after Xavi and Xabi's retirement and Age catching up with Iniesta, the Spain National team lost its hold, they are more of a team with youngsters showing flashes of brilliance, scoring goals but losing titles. A lot of questions has been asked concerning Spain's current problems, they have sacked one coach after another, still the problem remains. I for one think Spain's problem lies in their immature football stars. Without an iota of doubt, Spain possess amazing footballers, either better than Xabi, Xavi and Iniesta, the same class with them or slightly lower than them. They possess one of the strongest teams in the world in terms of quality, but they still lack what it takes to be World champions just like their predecessors.
Spain lost to England in the Uefa Nations League recently, they were 3-0 down at half-time, goals they conceived as a result of the high line they were playing. As always, they commanded possession but with nothing to show for it, a possession commanded mostly in their own half than in their opponent's half, unlike the days of Xavi, Xabi and Iniesta. They were very wayward with their passes and shots, made rash and unnecessary decisions, showing just flashes of brilliance, a complete evident to the fact that they seriously need to mature. Another problem with the Spanish National team is the Captaincy, Carles Puyol commaded much authority when he was captaining the team, Iker Casillas commanded respect when he was captain, current captain Sergio Ramos is finding it difficult commanding a mixed rival team, worst of all, his partner in the defence, Gerard Pique. When there is disharmony amongst a team, progress is lacked, Spain needs to come up with a solution to their recent predicaments or be left to rue their continuous missed chances of lifting a title in years to come.
The saying "WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER OPENS" is not applicable to the Spanish National team because ever since the retirement of Xabi, Xavi and Iniesta, what has been opening in the Spanish National team has been windows. But at least there is an opening, they just need to turn that window position into a door, a very large one at that
Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez might have left, but the future remains bright for Spain, they just need to realize that.
Watch the best ever Spanish team's display in the video below..
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