Given that Sunday’s World Cup final will be played in an NFL stadium, it’s well worth remembering one of the great maxims churned up by America’s version of football.
“Defence wins championships.”
It’s a quote that’s been attributed to legendary Alabama football coach Paul (Bear) Bryant, but it could equally apply to Luis de la Fuente – in the rare instances when the Spain head coach is not spouting Marcus Aurelius truth bombs.
Heading into Sunday’s match against Argentina, the reigning European champions have conceded just one goal through seven games. Much like in 2010 when it was breached twice in winning its first World Cup, or in 2012, when it let in one goal on its way to another European championship, Spain has shown the heights to which it can soar when it keeps the ball out of its net.
Unlike England, however, Spain won’t be parking el autobus in front of goalkeeper Unai Simón, inviting Lionel Messi and Co. to queue up around the penalty box and hoping for the best. Instead, it will starve Argentina of possession, passing the ball around amongst itself and driving the defending World Cup winners to distraction.
As everyone’s presumptive world champion – France – found out to its demise in the semi-final, if you do not have the ball, you cannot inflict much in the way of damage. The French were forced to wait until the 81st minute to even earn themselves a shot on target and by that point they were down 2-0 and on their way to World Cup purgatory – the third-place match in Miami.
Counterpoint: Why Argentina will win the World Cup
While the also-rans fight for relevance in South Beach, Spain will be preparing for its second World Cup final in 16 years, riding into New Jersey on the back of a 37-match unbeaten streak – the joint longest run in men’s international history.
It will be favoured not only to win the match, but also to cement itself as the greatest men’s national team of the 21st century.
For most of the last one, La Roja, as the national team is called, punched below its weight on the international stage, showing tendencies more in keeping with the bull than the matador. Despite fostering one of the biggest domestic leagues in the world – from where the legends of Real Madrid and Barcelona sprang up – the team routinely flamed out at major tournaments, with just the 1964 European Championship to its name.
That all changed with the coming of the new millennium.
Leaning on some of the biggest European talent, Spain has dominated the last two decades like few countries have ever done. It will add a second star to its crest with a win on Sunday, wrapping up its fifth major tournament success in the past 18 years.
Spanish wunderkind Lamine Yamal drew the foul in the penalty area that let his team open the scoring in a dominant win over France.MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP/Getty Images
In the place of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol are the Spanish headliners of the new generation – former Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and, of course, Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday.
Though he hasn’t hit full stride in this tournament as he recovers from a hamstring injury, Yamal – who was famously bathed as a baby by Messi in an FC Barcelona photo shoot 19 years ago – has long been anointed as the “next one.” Subpar or not, he showed more than enough aptitude against France, winning the decisive early penalty against an overawed Lucas Digne that set the tone for the semi-final.
But the precociousness of Yamal is a product of design, not chance. As established soccer journalist Guillem Balagué said after Tuesday’s semi-final win, “This game was won three decades ago when the federation decided to go for a type of player and a type of coach.”
What you need to know about the final
That type was predicated on a deep understanding of the possession-heavy style that Spain wants to play, a collective symbiosis that is ingrained deep into the country’s football DNA. And while it appears to be heavy on aesthetic, it is far more than skin deep. Just as the World Cup-winning team of 16 years ago withstood the Netherlands’ attempts to turn Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium into the octagon, with chest-high kicks and 10 yellow and red cards, this team has shown its fight too.
If Argentina wants to go elbows-up – as it did for much of the first half against England – Spain will be ready. Against France it won 56 per cent of the duels, as well as 68 per cent of the aerial battles, showing a willingness to simply roll up the sleeves and muck out when necessary.
Normally calm, cool and calculating though, this Spain squad is a direct reflection of its coach. Unlike some of the big, celebrity coaches at this tournament, such as Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino, de la Fuente has no Champions League finals or league titles on his résumé.
Instead, he has a deep understanding of his country’s footballing philosophy, and long-standing relationships with many of his players. That includes winning European under-19 and under-21 championships and an Olympic silver medal, in addition to the senior European title two years ago.
He comes into his first World Cup final with a 75 per cent win rate as the team’s head coach, losing just two of his 48 matches in charge of the men’s national team.
His team has certainly come a long way since it was widely panned for its goalless draw a little over a month ago against Cape Verde – who, it must be said, also played Argentina to a draw across 90 minutes.
The Spanish players have grown in confidence with each round, with their defensive solidity, timely goals from the likes of Mikel Merino and a collective willingness to share the glory.
Next up – their coronation.