Spain went to Germany without a real star player or expectations. Six weeks later, Luis de la Fuentes’ team will return home with a UEFA Men’s Championship title and hopes of a bright future.
The audacity of youngsters Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, combined with the wisdom of veterans such as Rodri and other stalwarts who had never won a major title before, saw Spain beat England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday.
The key for the Spanish was to adopt a more dynamic and versatile style of play, breaking with a decade of failures resulting from “tiki-taka”.
Even though Williams went on to deliver every cliché about the importance of living in the moment and taking one step at a time, the Athletic Bilbao forward couldn’t help but dream of the 2026 World Cup.
“We hope to continue this momentum and be serious contenders for the World Cup,” the 22-year-old said after scoring the first goal of the final. “I said it before the tournament; no one can stand up to us. We are a great team.”
The euphoria is justified.
Spain have won all seven of their games – all without going to a penalty shootout – and have scored a record 15 goals in this European Championship. Those victories have also come against continental powerhouses, having beaten Croatia and Italy in the group stage before ousting Germany and France en route to the championship match.
“We made history,” Rodri said after the game. “We made history by beating four world champions in succession; it’s the most competitive tournament our team has ever played in, there’s no doubt about it. We beat them all.”
The team will return to Madrid on Monday, where they will be greeted by Spain’s King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez before parading through the streets of the capital.
Passing the torch
Rodri was named the tournament’s MVP, despite missing the second half of the final due to a sore leg. The Manchester United midfielder is Spain’s leading contender for the men’s Ballon d’Or, and if he wins he would become the first Spaniard to do so since Luis Suarez in 1960. Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas have won the women’s Ballon d’Or in two of the last three years.
The conquest of the Euro thus puts an end to a 12-year drought for Spain, since a group led by Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez dominated the soccer planet by winning the European titles of 2008 and 2012, in addition to the World Cup of 2010.
“Previous generations opened the door for us,” Rodri said. “It’s part of our culture, the one we cherish and work tirelessly for. Today we are European champions, but we won’t stop there.”
The only member of the Spanish squad who has won a major title before is 38-year-old veteran Jesus Navas, who played at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Iniesta, Xavi and former Spanish striker David Villa were gathered in the stands of the Olympiastadion to witness the emergence of a new generation of players who have reinvented Spanish football.