Sport
EURO 2024: There's a very different Spain!
Coach Luis de la Fuente's team easily defeated Croatia 3-0 in their first match in Group B of EURO 2024.
Unlike previous tournaments, at EURO 2024, the number of players from Barcelona and Real Madrid no longer dominates compared to other clubs. In fact, Real Sociedad is the club contributing the most players to the Spanish national team at the tournament taking place in Germany, with a total of 5 players.
However, in the starting lineup of the Spanish national team in the match against the Croatian national team, center-back Robin le Normand was the only player on the roster of Real Sociedad. The remaining 10 positions came from Barcelona (2), Real Madrid (2), Athletic Bilbao (2), Atlético Madrid (1), Chelsea (1), Manchester City (1), Paris Saint-Germain (1).
Not only have there been personnel changes, but the Spanish national team's playing style is also no longer the same as before. Alvaro Morata and his teammates no longer have a superior ball control rate compared to their opponents, with their passes often being "harmless". According to statistics, in the 90 minutes of the match against Croatia, the Spanish team only had a ball possession rate of 47%.
Nevertheless, the performance of the Spanish team was incredibly impressive. The three goals scored in the first half still don't fully reflect the superior skill of Alvaro Morata and his teammates compared to their Croatian counterparts. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that there is a very different Spanish team on German soil.
Witnessing the convincing performance of striker Alvaro Morata and his teammates against Croatia in the first match of Group B, which took place on June 15th, most experts felt no surprise. This is because the team nicknamed La Roja is a destructive force under the leadership of coach Luis de la Fuente.
After more than a year and a half in the position of head coach (taking office in December 2022), Luis de la Fuente has built the Spanish national team into a winning machine. Before participating in EURO 2024, Luis de la Fuente's Spanish team had already won the 2022/2023 Nations League.
Clearly, coach Luis de la Fuente is gradually making his mark on the Spanish national team. With the 3-0 victory against Croatia, La Roja is considered a strong contender for the EURO 2024 title, alongside England, Germany, and France. Hopefully, this fresh approach will help the Spanish team perform successfully in Germany.
