Although the margin of victory was stunning, the nature of Spain’s capitulation against the Netherlands on Friday night was not entirely unexpected.
La Roja, it can no longer be ignored, have problems in every aspect of the game: mental, tactical and physical.
To start off with the psychological aspect, there was more than a hint of complacency to their demeanour against Lous Van Gaal’s rampaging team.
Playing with a hint of arrogance after winning three consecutive major trophies is understandable, but giving the impression that it’s only necessary to turn up to win cannot be accepted.
This attitude is tied up with the team’s inability to adapt after Robin van Persie’s spectacular header levelled the score.
Throughout the build-up, Spain have endlessly repeated they will not deviate from their short-passing style which has become known as ‘tiki-taka’ – indeed, Andres Iniesta stated so in an exclusive interview with Sport360º for our tournament magazine.
Such a one-track mentality was evident when the proverbial started to hit the fan on Friday night. With the Netherlands’ unusual 5-3-2 formation, their long diagonal passes and an apocalyptic tropical downpour giving the occasion a chaotic edge, Spain simply could not respond.
Their control of the game had been lost, they could not get it back and they had no other way of playing – mainly because they never have it in their heads that they might have to.
As far as Vicente Del Bosque and his men are concerned, it’s our way, or no way.
Spain’s tunnel-vision insistence upon retaining their old style andtheir stubborn refusal to consider other methods of playing has made them potentially easy pickings for any fast, physical and organised opponent.
None of this means, however, that Spain’s cause is lost.
Suggestions that ‘tiki-taka is dead’ are short-sighted – any playing system is only effective when it is executed well. Tiki-taka can again be king, but not with the current team.
Spain’s biggest problem is physical inferiority, especially in midfield where Sergio Busquets has never been particularly mobile, Xabi Alonso looks exhausted after a hard season and Xavi is a sadly declining force.
As controlling that zone of the pitch is so crucial, Del Bosque must make personnel changes if he wants to retain the team’s style of play.
Specifically, Alonso and Xavi should be jettisoned in favour of Javi Martinez and Koke, who can do the jobs carried out by their forebears in the last few years.
Spain can be more than good enough to beat Chile and Australia – but only if Del Bosque is bold enough to admit the old guard are past it.
