Spain's failure at EURO 2016: The decline of an empire

(Baonghean.vn) - Spain came to EURO 2016 with the ambition of becoming the first team in history to reach the pinnacle of continental football three times. However, that dream could not become a reality when the Bulls fell to the Italians in the round of 16. Then the Spanish empire entered a period of decline after a long reign at the pinnacle of world and continental football.

Football is ultimately just a game of fate, which does not allow any football power to dominate forever. In that whirlpool of creation, powerful football powers like Brazil, the team that once stood on top of the world's glory five times with its captivating Samba style of play, have now become a name only because of the glory of the past. Spain is no exception, as La Roja is also suffering the same fate as Brazil.

Spain national team has twice won the EURO Silver Cup.

Throughout its history, Spain has often been known by the unpleasant name of “King of Qualifiers”. That is because, despite being a team with great players in their squad throughout the years, strangely, from 2008 onwards, they often played poorly in major tournaments at the world and continental levels. In the World Cup arena, La Roja’s best achievement was reaching the quarter-finals, while in the continental arena, except for the championship they won at EURO 1964 and the runner-up position in 1984, most of the Bulls had to pack their bags and return home early. However, since EURO 2008, Spain with a generation of players entering their prime and considered a golden generation such as Casillas, Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso, David Villa, Puyol, Fernado Torres… have conquered the hearts of fans around the world with their magical Tiqui – Taka style of play. At that year's EURO, under the guidance of veteran coach Del Bosque, Spain defeated the reigning champion Greece in the group stage, the reigning champion Italy in the quarter-finals and finally Germany in the final to convincingly win the championship and open a successful cycle for the team from the Iberian peninsula.

After the resounding success at EURO 2008, La Roja continued to reap success at World 2010 when they continued to defeat the world's major football teams to step up to the podium for the first time in history after the tournament ended. Not stopping there, in 2012, Coach Del Bosque's team continued to successfully defend the championship title they won at EURO 2008. It can be said that from 2008 to 2012, La Roja rose to become an invincible team and a new force in world and continental football.

However, the joy was short-lived, after a period of great success, Spain began to enter a period of decline. When at the 2014 World Cup, the team of coach Del Bosque, as the reigning world champion, had to sadly leave the tournament when the group stage officially ended. After that, they also lost to the top teams in the world in friendly matches, especially the shameful loss to the "weak" team Georgia, like an alarm bell for the decline of a football power.

Defeat to Italy marks the end of Spain's golden era

Coming to EURO 2016, with the ambition to complete a hat-trick of championships at the biggest European tournament at the national team level. Spain had an ideal start when they defeated Türkiye and the Czech Republic to quickly secure a ticket to the knockout round. However, in the final match against Croatia, with their complacency and predictable playing style, Coach Del Bosque's team accepted defeat and shot themselves in the foot when they finished the group stage in 2nd place, meaning they would soon face their fateful opponent, Italy. Then they accepted defeat against Coach Conte's team in the round of 16.

With the defeat against the Italians, this is the second time after the 2014 World Cup that the Spanish have had to pack their bags and return home early when the tournament is entering its most dramatic phase. This proves that Spain has passed its golden age. La Roja once defeated the Italians to open a successful cycle in history and also ended with a loss to the same opponent.

When the generation of players who made history have passed the other side of their careers or have retired from the national team, the Tiqui-Taka style of play associated with La Roja is losing ground to the pragmatic style of play. The Spanish empire that once dominated the world will inevitably wither away with that collapse.

Cao Anh