Spain's Euro 2024 Triumph Sparks Bright Future, Eyes on 2026 World Cup
Spain arrived in Germany with no huge stars and no real expectations. Six weeks later, Luis de la Fuente's team headed home with a European Championship title to celebrate and reason to believe in a bright future.
Update: The team won!
The youthful spark of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams combined perfectly with the veteran poise of Rodri and other mainstays who had yet to win a major trophy as Spain completed its superb Euro 2024 in the final with a 2-1 win over England on Sunday.
The key was making Spain a more dynamic and versatile attacking team to end a decade of "tiki-taka" misfires.
Even though Williams later rolled out the platitudes of enjoying the moment and going forward step by step, the Athletic Bilbao winger couldn't help but look forward to the 2026 World Cup.
"We hope this can keep going and we can shoot for the World Cup," the 22-year-old said after scoring the opening goal of the final. "I said before the tournament, nobody can hang with us. We are a great team."
The euphoria was justified.
Spain won all seven games — with none going to penalties — and scored a record 15 goals at a European Championship. And those victories came against the top traditional powers on the continent, as Spain downed Croatia and Italy in the group phase before eliminating Germany and France to reach the final.
"We made history beating four world champions in a row," Rodri said. "This is the most difficult tournament that our team has faced, without a doubt. We toppled them all."
The team flew to Madrid on Monday, when captain Álvaro Morata showed off the trophy on the stairs leading down to the tarmac. The team then visited Spain's King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez before partying with thousands of fans in the capital.
Passing the torch
Rodri was named the player of the tournament, even without playing the second half of the final due to a leg problem. The Manchester City midfielder is Spain's leading candidate to finally win its first men's Ballon d'Or award since Luis Suárez back in 1960. Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas have won the women's Ballon d'Or the past three years.
The title ends a 12-year wait since a group piloted by Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández dominated world soccer after sweeping up the 2008 and 2012 Euros and the 2010 World Cup.
"The previous generations showed us the way," Rodri said. "This is something that is cultivated and nurtured and you work hard for. Today we are champions of Europe and we are not going to stop here."
The only member of the team who knew what it was like to win a major title was the 38-year-old Jesus Navas, who played at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Ronnie J. Willis is a staff reporter for The Navigator.