When La Roja defeated Croatia 3-0 in Berlin, they achieved a historic first and demonstrated a marked shift in style from earlier competitions. It is commonly stated that, from a tactical standpoint, modern football is becoming more and more uniform. There have been a few exceptions to the general trend, even though it is true that the ease with which ideas may be communicated has caused many teams’ playing styles to converge. One such instance in the international match had been Spain.
La Roja emerged as a major force in football in the mid-to-late 2000s after spending a long time in the wilderness. They won the World Cup in 2010 and the Euros in 2008 and 2012. Their possession-focused approach was essential to achieving this dominance.
Much to Pep Guardiola’s dismay, “tiki-taka,” as it would come to be called worldwide, has its origins in Catalunya. Although Johan Cruyff is credited with starting it, Guardiola was its most effective proponent. Pep’s Barcelona was destroying club football at the same time as Spain was experiencing great success, taking home 14 of the 19 championships that were up for grabs between 2008 and 2012. And even with the retirement of their golden generation and the subsequent dry spell of trophy winning, La Roja’s obsession with possession-first football has not wavered. That is, until a short while ago.
