Marcel

They kept a clean sheet in 6 of every 10 games played in that period. Such all-round quality, and control. More than 100 goals scored which sits at an average of more than 2 goals per game. They’ve become such total football team. They defend in a very organised structure, are offensive in a probing way. They have individual qualities to spin the wheel when the oil gets dry and enough collective strength and belief to come back from difficult situations. You aren’t just seeing a successful national team in all its glory, you’re seeing the results of a country that is reaping the rewards of its patiently-assembled, painstakingly built sporting essence. An endless stream of coaching talents. A pipeline of football talents emerging from everywhere. Almost every club has a piece in the pie, directly or as a measure of progression through providing a developmental pathway. A system to understudy. A system that should be a course by itself. ‘How have Spain become so good?’ should be a question that’s reverberating across football federations? Whatever they’ve done, is it replicable? What do you need to have in place? Is it just about players? Or it’s more about leadership, national pride, a collective sense of discipline. It’s also a team that makes a strong case of cultural integration even while flying the flag of traditional values. Its best player is a son of African migrants but the team’s core essence isn’t lost. It’s a combination of roots and stories rooted in resilience. You have Madridistas, Canarians, Catalans, Basques etc mixed with children of people who left their countries in pursuit of a better life. Such a successful story. I’m in awe.