As much as Spain have changed since they lifted three consecutive major trophies between 2008 and 2012, one thing has stayed the same: Andres Iniesta.
Manager Vicente Del Bosque made a further break with the past on Monday by – finally and belatedly – relegating former skipper Iker Casillas to substitute and promoting David De Gea to the starting line-up.
That left just two men who started both the 2008 European Championship Final and the 2010 World Cup Final: defensive stalwart Sergio Ramos, and Iniesta.
Assuming he does not make a dramatic return to the team, Casillas has now joined former fundamental players such as Carles Puyol, Xabi Alonso, Xavi and David Villa in being consigned to the ranks of history.
Although the identity of the players is gradually changing, however, the team’s style of play has remained largely unchanged from those glory days – and that is largely because Iniesta is still there.
The man who scored the most famous goal in Spanish football history – downing the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup Final – showed once again in Monday’s 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic that he is still, even at the age of 32, easily his national team’s most influential player.
Nearly everything Spain did went through the little master, whose ability to penetrate well organised defensive lines with clever dribbles or well weighted passes remains almost unique (perhaps only rivalled by his club mate Lionel Messi).
Amid all the comings and goings of the last few years, Iniesta is still the man responsible for allowing Spain to maintain their collective personality, which has become much imitated all over the world.
Andres Iniesta's game by numbers vs. #CZE:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 13, 2016
100% take-ons
92 passes
5 chances created
1 assist
The Don. #ESP pic.twitter.com/tIEEbKpfWZ
The team plays to his strengths, allowing him to set both the style and the tempo for everything they do. But football is a team game and even Iniesta could not do everything on his own, so it is fortunate that he is surrounded by a core of players who know him perfectly – his Barcelona teammates, both former and current.
With Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique in defence, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets in midfield, Nolito in attack and Thiago Alcantara and Pedro coming off the bench, Spain featured no less than eight players who graduated through the Nou Camp ranks during Monday’s hard-fought win over the Czechs.
Iniesta’s closest ally – both tactically and positionally – is Sergio Busquets, who has spent his entire career closely stationed at Iniesta’s side, using his game intelligence to keep the team’s shape and provide a solid platform for him to weave his magic.
Partners in crime: Iniesta (l) and Busquets.
The winning goal, however, was provided by another Barcelona player: the unlikely source of Pique, who could barely miss as he strode forward to meet a perfect cross from – guess who? – Iniesta with just three minutes remaining.
That was a perfectly fitting end to Spain’s morale-boosting victory: generally made in Barcelona, specifically inspired by Iniesta.
There is a lot more to this Spain team than Catalonia, of course, and they are not just a carbon copy of the Barcelona outfit which has dominated club football for the last decade.
Without the presence of Messi, and now Neymar and Luis Suarez, that would be impossible, and the influence of rock-solid Ramos, stylish David Silva (who really should have come through Barcelona’s ranks) and emerging striker Alvaro Morata should not be overlooked.
But the pass, move, pass again, probe and persist philosophy, which ultimately bore fruit yesterday, is more or less a direct product of La Masia training methods.
Nobody embodies that approach more than Andres Iniesta and, with this most unassuming of national heroes in this form, they could well end up champions once again.
