In a surprising turn of events at Euro 2024, Spain secured a decisive 3-0 victory against Croatia, but not in the manner that has become synonymous with La Roja. The match, played on Saturday, unveiled a Spain that was less about dominating possession and more about tactical efficiency.
Post-match statistics revealed a striking anomaly: Spain held only 46% of the ball. According to Opta, a renowned stats analyst, this marked the first time in 136 competitive fixtures that Spain had conceded possession to their opponent. The last instance of Spain having less possession was in the Euro 2008 final against Germany, a game they won 1-0, also with 46% possession. This encompasses major tournaments including World Cups, European Championships, Confederations Cups, and the Nations League, highlighting the rarity of this occurrence.
“The most crucial aspect is securing victory and performing effectively, not merely focusing on possession statistics,” stated Spain midfielder Fabián Ruiz, who played a pivotal role in the win against Croatia, scoring a goal and providing an assist. This sentiment underscores a significant strategic pivot for a team historically recognized for its possession-centric approach, almost to the point of obsession.
This possession-based strategy, known as tiki-taka, had been a hallmark of Spanish football for years. Pioneered by former Spain coach Luis Aragonés and later refined by Vicente del Bosque, it drew heavily from Barcelona’s celebrated playing style of that era. Under this system, Spain enjoyed considerable success, winning the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Midfield maestros Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta became the embodiment of this passing philosophy.
However, as the tiki-taka era began to wane in terms of silverware, Spain’s response was to double down on possession, often with diminishing returns. The previous two World Cups serve as stark examples. In both 2018 and 2022, Spain was eliminated despite completing over 1,000 passes in each game, with Spanish forwards failing to find the net in crucial moments. Both exits were via penalty shootouts, first against host nation Russia in 2018 and then against Morocco in 2022. These defeats prompted a critical reassessment of Spain’s approach.
Enter new coach Luis de la Fuente, who took the reins after the 2022 World Cup, succeeding Luis Enrique. De la Fuente has since spearheaded a revolution in the team’s priorities, shifting away from the dogmatic possession-at-all-costs approach. Following the encouraging win against Croatia in their Euro 2024 opener, De la Fuente emphasized Spain’s newfound tactical flexibility.
“One of our strengths is our great versatility and tactical adaptability as matches evolve,” De la Fuente commented. “I believe we are developing this national team into a side with diverse capabilities. We can control possession and orchestrate intricate attacks, or we can capitalize on quick breaks. This adaptability is something we should be very pleased about.” This victory against Croatia signals a new chapter for Spain, one where tactical flexibility and efficiency may outweigh the long-held dogma of possession, potentially making them a more unpredictable and dangerous opponent in Euro 2024.
