I didn’t take long for commentators to conclude that Spain’s early exit from this World Cup marked not just a disastrous premature end in a group stage but the end of an era for a national team that had retained their European and World Cup crown over a period of six years.
I argued that while a tragedy to see Spain humiliated in such a way,their early exit did not signify the end of an era, and nothing I have seen so far in this World Cup has altered my view.
It was a tragedy to see some great players like Xavi and Casillas relegated to the subs bench, and to see Del Bosque blunder tactically and psychologically -in using Diego Costa and failing to motivate a majority of players to believe that having got to the top of a mountain of success , they still could and had to conquer a higher peak.
And yet for all the sparks of individual brilliance, (Messi, Neymar, James Rodriguez) pace (France, Croatia) , resilience (Chile) and goal scoring ability (Rodriguez, Muller, Messi, Neymar) , no team unit has managed to so far entertain still less dazzle us with the collective excellence that La Roja managed at its best.
Consider Spain’s campaign just two years ago in Euro2012 and the way they defeated Italy 4-0 in the final, putting to shame all those who has speculated that the La Rjoa’s brand of posession, quick passing football had become boring and ineffective. Prior to that , Spain had not conceded a goal in a knock-out match since 2006, incorporating ten matches and almost 17 hours of pitch-time. More often than not, it is because their opponents simply couldn’t get the ball.
La Roja was sheer collective brilliance, poetry in motion when not just one player but several hugely talented ones contributed to its solid foundation. The defence not only held up but was also and capable of great movement (Jordi Alba)the midfield orchestrated by the eyes the back of his head Xavi was a seamless transition belt, with three more advanced players – Iniesta , Silva and Cesc Fabregas showing their ability to interchange positions, and , despite not having a recognisable striker, the likes of Torres each contributing or assisting in some marvellous goals.
What sometimes got overlooked was the skillfull and imaginative way they work Spanish players got the ball the ball back when they lost it. Everyone tracked back if necessary and fought as well as created.
In this World Cup we have seen examples of collective spirit and organisation, but this has been lacking in both hosts Brazil and Argentina who just managed to get into the quarter finals by the skin of their teeth against very ordinary opposition.
As for Spain’s humiliators, Holland, noone can seriously suggest that they have the dash and flair that had Brilliant Orange define an era, nor that this Germany,Belgium, France, Greece and Colombia are playing a football that everyone else feels a need to follow and emulate.
Del Bosque and Spanish players must be watching this World Cup with a deepening sense of how different things might have been had Silva scored that second goal against Holland. Spain’s consolation is that they have a huge pool of new talent to draw on for the next European Championships, as well as some players who far from being past their sell by date will now surely be motivated to redeem themselves. Whoever wins this World Cup, people will honour individuals not teams. The great La Roja has yet to be displaced in the history of the modern game.
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