Euro 2024 is a tournament of coaches, though not in a positive sense. England, Portugal, France, Belgium… in most of the games so far, it seems incredible how such teams can play so poorly, so sparingly, miserably and so uninterested. On the one hand, one gets the impression that international football has completely ceded its primacy to club football, so players, especially those who have valid contracts, sometimes seem to be there only because they have to. On the other hand, it seems as if the national team coaches obey the will of their stars, choose lineups that do not make any sence, and determine the rhythm of the game that would put even the most ardent fans to sleep. It is no wonder that it is more interesting to watch the match between Austria and Turkey than France vs Portugal.And somewhere, between the patriotism of the little ones and the combination of arrogance and indifference of the big ones, you see the Spain of Luis de la Fuente. Spain, which no one believed in before the start of the tournament, which the domestic media called “Cinderella”, in which the dominance of Real Madrid and Barca disappeared, and whose coach no one had heard of.The Germans tried hard, dominated a good part of the game, for some they lost unfairly, but the Spanish victory was not accidental. Both in terms of technical and tactical qualities – which they undoubtedly have, and in terms of aspects that make football break statistics, such as motivation, self-confidence and positive collective dynamics. Luis de la Fuente is very solid in the first argument, and excels in the second.”My only credit is that I know my players very well and I know they will not let me down,” he declared after retiring Toni Kroos, and for the first time in the history of La Furia Roja, he broke the curse and eliminated the host of the tournament.Danke, Toni!And who is Luis de la Fuente anyway? Born in Haro, in La Rioja, trained at the Athletic Bilbao school, he believes that Copa del Rey is the most important competition, and that football is a game that should bring joy. His role model is Vicente del Bosque, he treats journalists and players with respect and wears the cheapest Adidas sneakers. His salary is three times lower than his predecessor’s, even eight times that of England coach Gareth Southgate.He took Luis Enrique’s place after Qatar, which was not easy at all. The protagonism and charisma of his predecessor were replaced by the modest head coach of the young national team, who, it is true, won the U21 European Championship, but in essence, he was nothing more than an employee of the Football Association. At least that’s what was said.The first lineup already, at the beginning of 2023, was a kind of revolution. Gone is the primacy of Barcelona (Real Madrid’s already went out the window with Luis Enrique being appointed), and De la Fuente created his own Spain. The one he knows from the youth categories, geographically and club-wise more diverse, with some new and some forgotten players. Joselu made his debut, for example, at the age of 32, and we know what his performance was after that both in the national team and in Real Madrid. He then insisted on inviting fifteen-year-old Yamal, so that he would not ‘accidentally’ pay allegiance to Morocco.Finally, he paid, and pays tribute to Basque football. There are even eight of them in the current national team. Five players from Real Sociedad, and three from Athletic Bilbao, to which we can freely add Laporte. And paying tribute to Basque football means appreciating the value of school, pedagogy, youth formation and trust in local values. As well as combativeness, strength and motivation.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Although, after a bad debut, he continued to win and won the Nations League, it was not easy for him to continue either, because, right after his football success, he was marked by the scandal of his employer, Luis Rubiales, and the support he gave him at first. The head coach of the women’s national team, Jorge Vilda, got sacked regardless of the title of world champion, but those responsible believed that De la Fuente should stay, there was no great pressure and he was given the opportunity to atone for his sins. Last night’s presence of the Spanish Prime Minister, who was personally involved in the expulsion of Rubiales, is a sign that all is forgiven.Thus, this employee, otherwise employed in the Football Association since 2013, where he has always worked with youth teams, is now showing everyone that success does not come with a wave of a magic wand, but with systematic work.”If anyone knows the present and the future of Spanish football, it’s me”, is the only bombastic statement of the Spanish coach who recently got praise from Lionel Scaloni for his great help in Argentinian’s coaching beginnings.Even now, when Spain has overcome probably the biggest obstacle on the way to the trophy, it is inevitable to notice the pedagogical work that tells us that this is not the pinnacle. “A team under construction”, a popular phrase for justifying failure, now points the way to future, even greater successes, and looks set to reach its peak only at the World Cup in the United States of America.He was lucky – sceptics will say. He was lucky because Spain never, or at least for a very long time, had talents of the dimensions of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams on their wings. Behind which, we must not forget, are the excellent Dani Carvajal and the surprising Marc Cucurella. It is a combination that allows for vertical play, but which also gives a lot of space to play the classic possession of the ball in the middle of the field that Furia is so famous for. And in that same midfield, there are Rodri, Pedri and Fabian Ruiz. Sweepers are considered the weakest link, although Spain has conceded only two goals in the EURO so far.Luis de la Fuente’s Spain – Counter pressing behaviourpic.twitter.com/VADZh7Rb4J— Gaurav (@GauravAnlyst) July 5, 2024 But last night the game was ended by “team B”. Team B, which includes, among other things, the colossal Dani Olmo, probably one of the most underrated European footballers. Or Mikel Merino who happened to score in the same stadium as his father, Angel, 30 years ago. With the fact that there is nothing accidental about that goal, because Merino is an expert precisely in these kinds of incursions into the penalty area from the background. Lamine and Nico came out, but we must not forget that the team became more offensive on the pitch with Joselu, Oyarzabal, Olmo and Ferran Torres. Last night’s ranking can be explained by belief in victory and motivation, but in no case can we claim that it was accidental. Let’s remember that: “My only merit is that I know my players very well”.Another piece of information tells about the change in the Spanish style of play. Pressing after losing the ball and the classic high defense now have an addition. Furia is second in the tournament in the number of fouls committed. Traditionally “soft” footballers, they have now added combativeness to their game. According to close sources, De la Fuente is the only one who doesn’t forgive red cards – 11 enter the game and 11 leave it. Only the experienced Carvajal could break that rule, who a second before the end and knowing that he will definitely not play the next game.Deschamps’ France awaits the Spaniards in the semi-finals. It will be a clash of football joy and stinginess, frugality and disinterest. It’s a clash with a team that has not scored a single goal from active play so far, which is difficult to watch but which should not be underestimated either.And it will not be underestimated, because, thanks to De la Fuente, arrogance has also disappeared from Spanish football. The footballers, the audience and the media, follow the easy rhythm of the coach, and game by game, without much fanfare, they are getting closer to the continental title.EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – 1/4 FINALSFridaySpain – Germany 2-1 (0-0) AET/Olmo 52, Merino 119 – Wirtz 89/Portugal – France 0-0/France win 5-3 on penalties/Saturday19:00: (2.35) England (3.20) Switzerland (3.55)22:00: (1.65) Netherlands (4.10) Turkey (5.80)***odds are subject to change***
