Spanish win unites divided factions
It is an assessment which perfectly sums up why on Sunday in Vienna, after so many years of perceived underachievement, ‘La Furia Roja’ banished 44 years of bad memories.
The Spain team on show this summer finally came good on all that promise and did so in some style, not only winning the tournament, but also winning support for their free-flowing, attacking brand of football.
Coach Luis Aragones managed to transform a list of great names into a team of great players.
And as Torres pointed out, he did so by achieving a unity between Spain’s deeply divided factions, highlighted most strongly in the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“This was not a victory for Madrid or for Barca, this was a victory for a country and a victory for football,” said midfielder Cesc Fabregas, one of six players in the Spanish squad from the fiercely independent area of Catalonia.
While none of the Catalan players adorned themselves in Spanish flags following the final whistle, their contribution to the success on the pitch was immense, highlighted by the naming of Barcelona midfielder Xavi as player of the tournament.
For the first time in a long time, football came before identity to this group, and the results could not have been more positive.
And the credit for such an achievement has to placed squarely upon the 69-year-old shoulders of Aragones.
Considered headstrong and stubborn by many observers, it is perhaps these traits which have served the coach best, as in the build-up to the tournament he stuck by his much-derided decision to leave Real Madrid captain Raul, the golden boy of Spanish football, out of the squad.
More than a mere tactical decision, the move signalled the end of the dominance that La Liga’s big two clubs had held over the national team, a dominance which many suspected had prevented the evolution of any kind of team spirit in the Spanish camp at previous tournaments.
The decision shocked and angered the Madrid-based press, who could not understand why La Liga’s player of the year and the all-time record goalscorer for Spain was being overlooked.
The fans greeted Aragones with chants of “Raul, Raul” when he arrived in Malaga for a friendly against France in February.
But the coach stuck by his decision, arguing with one shocked supporter: “How many major tournaments have Spain won with Raul in the squad?”
He has proved his critics wrong, by winning. As if to emphasise the point further, the Spanish dominance of the tournament was made complete with Xavi’s best player award, David Villa’s Golden Boot (the first ever for a Spaniard), and the inclusion of nine Spanish players in the squad of the tournament.
However, Aragones will not continue as Spain coach, due to the criticism he received prior to the tournament.
Meanwhile, captain Iker Casillas believes Spain’s success has enabled the country to shake off their tag as perennial underachievers.
Casillas, arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, was well protected by a back four in which Sergio Ramos shone at right-back, the midfield was a masterclass of ‘pass-and-move’ while Villa led the attack.
“We have done a great job together as a team,” said Casillas.
“I’m delighted for my team-mates and for myself because we have shown we are great players.
“I think we needed to prove that point in Europe. We have done our nation proud.”
Despite being home to one of the top domestic leagues in the world, Spain have struggled in international competition.
They were knocked out in the first round of Euro 2004 and two years later they lost to France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup with Aragones in charge.
Casillas hailed 69-year-old Aragones, who leaves his post on a high.
“Aragones has done a great job,” Casillas said. “He made us believe that it could be done from day one.”
The victorious squad returned home today to parade the trophy through the streets of Madrid.
“I don’t think what we have achieved will sink in until the next few days,” Casillas added.
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