After more than ten years of heartbreak, Spain gracefully returned to the pinnacle of football by making it to Sunday’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin. After winning two European Championships in 2008 and 2012, either side of their 2010 World Cup victory, La Roja looked certain to rule football for years to come. But, their rapid decline was matched by the dreadful performance of the players who were supposed to succeed them. Spain’s World Cup defense in 2014 ended in early humiliation, as they were thrashed 5-1 by the Netherlands, sending them out of the tournament.
Two times defending champions Spain were eliminated by Italy in the Euro 2016 last-16; newspaper Marca called it “The End” for Vicente del Bosque’s La Roja. Spain lost to Russia on penalties at the same stage of the 2018 World Cup, completing over 1,000 passes but failing to cause any damage to the undermanned hosts. A stronger performance at Euro 2020 propelled a young team to the semi-finals, but another heartbreaking exit came when Morocco defeated Spain in the 2022 World Cup last-16.
The team was, according to the Spanish football association, almost where they needed to be.
Luis de la Fuente, who had successfully coached national youth teams for many years, took coach Luis Enrique’s post.
Spain has been reaping the benefits of sticking with their unknown coach despite early reservations, which included a 2-0 loss to Scotland in the previous season.
When De la Fuente won the Nations League last summer, they declared it was just the beginning and took home their first trophy in eleven years.
Indeed, it did, as La Roja emerged as the most impressive Euros team, defeating hosts Germany and France and going on to win the most difficult group that included reigning champions Italy.
With the exception of Manchester City midfielder Rodri, their lineup doesn’t have many well-known players, so what they have accomplished appears amazing.