BARCELONA: Spain arrived in Germany with no huge stars or real expectations. Six weeks later, Luis de la Fuente's team heads home with a European Championship title to celebrate and reason to believe in a bright future.
The youthful spark of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams combined perfectly with the veteran poise of Rodri and other mainstays who had yet to win a major trophy as Spain completed its superb Euro 2024 with a 2-1 win over England on Sunday. The key was making Spain a more dynamic attacking team to end a decade of "tiki-taka" misfires.
"We hope this can keep going and we can shoot for the World Cup," the 22-year-old Williams said after scoring the opening goal.
The euphoria was justified.
Spain won all seven games - with none going to penalties - and scored a record 15 goals at a European Championship.
Spain downed Croatia and Italy in the group phase before eliminating Germany and France to reach the final.
"We made history," Rodri said after the game. "We made history beating four world champions in a row." Rodri was named the player of the tournament, even without playing in the second half of the final due to a leg problem.
The title ends a 12-year wait since a group piloted by Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez dominated world soccer after sweeping up the 2008 and 2012 Euros and the 2010 World Cup. "The previous generations showed us the way," Rodri said. The only member of the team who knew what it was like to win a major title was the 38-year-old Jesus Navas, who played at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Fittingly, Iniesta, Xavi and former Spain striker David Villa were together in the stands at the Olympiastadion to watch how this new batch of players added a new dimension to Spain's game.
NEW STYLE
While nowhere close to England's anguishing title drought since the 1966 World Cup, Spain had entered a period of underachieving since their success at Euro 2012. Their attempts to maintain the "tiki-taka" ball-possession playing style failed. In Germany, however, Spain deployed some new weapons that left defences scrambling to cover attacks from all angles. The imprint of those great Spain teams was still there to be seen, of course. Rodri and fellow midfielder Fabian Ruiz could latch onto the ball when required. Yet the strength of Spain shifted to the wings.
Yamal put on a show each game from the right side. The Barcelona forward, who turned 17 a day before the final, scored an instant classic of a goal to help beat France 2-1 in the semi-finals, and he delivered his fourth assist of the tournament to set up Williams' goal against England.
Williams romped on the other flank, doubling up with Marc Cucurella to make a duo that no defenders could handle. Cucurella delivered the pass for Mikel Oyarzabal to score the winner over England. Williams, the Athletic Bilbao forward and Leipzig's Dani Olmo are likely going to draw the attention of major clubs.
Player of the tournament: RodriYoung player of the tournament: Lamine YamalPlayer of the final: Nico Williams
