Three reasons why Spain are in the World Cup final
The European champions have reached the final through a collective approach that reflects their own distinctive style.
ARLINGTON - Spain will bid for a second World Cup title on Sunday, 16 years after lifting their first, when they face Argentina in the final, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
However, their journey to the showpiece match has been far from the star-driven campaigns from other teams at this tournament.
While many sides have relied on their biggest names to carry them forward, the European champions have reached the final through a collective approach that reflects their own distinctive style.
The following are three key reasons for their success, according to dpa:
No Spaniard receives as much attention from fans and the media as Lamine Yamal.
The 19-year-old, who celebrated his birthday the day before Spain's 2-0 semi-final win over France and then marked the occasion by securing the hoped-for trip to the final in New Jersey, is the biggest star on the team.
But he is nowhere near as dominant for Spain as Lionel Messi is for Argentina, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are for England, Erling Haaland is for Norway, or Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé are for France.
"We played against one of the best national teams, but they had to face the best team. We are a team,” coach Luis de la Fuente said after Spain's semi-final victory.
Spain have reached the final even though Yamal has managed just one goal and one assist.
Key figures on Spain's road to the final included Mikel Oyarzabal, whose successful penalty against France was his fifth goal of this World Cup.
Yet the Real Sociedad forward would probably not make the top 10 on any list of the world's best-known strikers.
Neither would Mikel Merino, the super-sub who scored last-minute winners against Portugal and Belgium.
"We all work toward the same goal, not just that of one individual. I have never experienced such an exemplary group, both on and off the pitch. In 47 days together, we didn't have a single problem,” de la Fuente said.
The World Cup final will be Spain's eighth match of the tournament across the United States (US), Canada and Mexico, and they have conceded just one goal so far.
While the opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde was initially met with ridicule, it has long since become clear that the European champions are enjoying an outstanding defensive tournament.
Only Belgium, in the quarter-finals, managed to put Spain's defence under sustained pressure and became the only team to score against them.
As the saying goes, offence wins games, defence wins titles.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón set a World Cup record by going 649 minutes without conceding a goal, comfortably surpassing Walter Zenga's 36-year-old mark.
The Athletic Bilbao keeper, who has often faced criticism, was only called into action in the closing stages against France, as the players in front of him, led by Rodri and 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí, allowed hardly any chances.
Since taking over in January 2023, Luis de la Fuente has been in charge of 48 international matches.
He has lost only three, and none at major tournaments.
Since a 2-0 defeat to Scotland in the European Championship qualifiers in March 2023, Spain have suffered only one defeat under de la Fuente - in the Nations League final against Portugal last summer, on penalties.
In open play, the European champions have remained unbeaten for more than three years under his stewardship.
"I continue to be amazed by what this team is capable of. We keep improving, from one match to the next, from one competition to the next,” de la Fuente said.
"It's not just luck; it's commitment, talent, sacrifice and the desire to become an even better version of ourselves.”
De la Fuente is responsible for fostering this mindset.
He has worked for the Spanish Football Federation for 13 years and previously coached many of the current national team players at youth level.
He instilled these values in them while they were still teenagers.
With Rodri and Merino, for example, he won the Under-19 European Championship in 2015.
Four years later, Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo were in the starting lineup as Spain's Under-21 side won the European title.
Right-back Pedro Porro, who scored the second goal against France, said after reaching the final: "Of course, not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined playing in a World Cup like this.
"But I also owe that to my teammates and to the coach, who believed in me from the very first moment. Not just at this World Cup, but ever since I made my debut for him with the Under-21 team.” - BERNAMA-DPA
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