An in-depth look at 'The Spanish way’

KIEV, UKRAINE – JULY 01: Spain players celebrate victory after the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine.

I wonder how many of you will now be in front of your computers and about to begin your marathon run on Football Manager settings to come up with a 4-6-0 formation? Quite a few I would imagine. But be warned, we’re not all Spanish.

Spain made history in so many ways during this year’s European Championships, including their decision to play without a recognized striker. They shocked fans of the football world by playing effectively with six midfielders by trade. Cesc Fabregas was the man chosen to be the most advanced midfielder although he often inter-changed with David Silva, Andres Iniesta and even Jordi Alba who was often found as the furthest man forward for Spain even scoring in the final, and that’s a left back!

KIEV, UKRAINE – JULY 01: Jordi Alba (L) of Spain celebrates after scoring his team

As shocking as the new formation was, it must have worked, after all Spain yet again lifted another major trophy for their impressive cabinet and continued to dominate world football being touted as the best team to ever grace the sport.

However, many of us claimed this style of football was negative and boring, even some high profile pundits agreed. Some critics stated that all they seem to do is pass the ball back and forth without creating any real chances, and certainly not shooting on sight. I must admit, I even found myself watching their games growing frustrated at the fact players like Xavi and Iniesta got themselves in to good shooting positions, but would not pull the trigger. In fact, they’d opt for a difficult through ball and end up losing possession. Players who have the finishing abilities of such a high level should be shooting more often.

Spanish Head Coach del Bosque often flirted with playing without a recognized centre forward. If he felt his tactics were not working, he would change it and bring on a striker, or the other way around if he’d started with a striker. Both Fernando Torres and Negredo had opportunities in the starting line-up, but when things weren’t working he’d take them off and bring on the midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

When Torres played, he would not gain many touches on the ball, but he did score goals and even picked up the tournaments Golden Boot Award for his efforts. He may not be the sublime passer that Spain possess in every other position, his award proves that Spain have to start with a recognized centre forward. The runs he makes, he draws players out of position. In training, centre forwards will work differently to other players; they will concentrate on off the ball work and finishing more than other players.

KIEV, UKRAINE – JULY 01: Fernando Torres of Spain celebrates scoring his side

Spain work the ball well, keep the ball, tire out they’re opponents and if they lose it, they get it back pronto. I just feel that with all the class and technical abilities they have on the park, they need that outlet up top making the darting runs in behind for that through ball. Fabregas was not doing this, naturally he will drop deeper to get hold of the ball, especially if he wasn’t receiving the ball playing off the last man like Torres and Negredo.

Anyone who says Spain are boring are wrong, to me, all that was missing from most of they’re performances was finesse and a true centre forward. But the centre forward who does play, will have to concede that they will not get as many touches on the ball, the team have that many quality players who will pass it around deep, the forward doesn’t need to be one of them.

Spain are a joy to watch and I truly believe that if Del Bosque played with a striker every match then they would have produced similar score lines to the 4-0 victory over Italy.

KIEV, UKRAINE – JULY 01: Head Coach Vicente del Bosque of Spain celebrates their victory after the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Not any team can play the Spanish way; to start with, most of these players are born technically gifted. At their clubs they are nurtured to become these hugely confident players who can perform under pressure and in tight, small spaces. In training, they will spend hours in small groups playing two-on-two for in a very small area. This teaches them to become good on the ball under pressure. They also work heavily on match fitness and pressing. To be able to press the way that the Spanish do, means that pretty much 70% of the time they have the ball in their own possession, looking to damage you.

They have the vision and ability to thread a pass. They also have quality footballers in every position, your just as likely to see Sergio Ramos run past two defenders and thread a pass, than you will Andres Iniesta. They teach this within they’re grass roots coaching academies and the standards of these set-ups are the best in the world. Which is why Spain are the best in the world.

I think people who criticised the Spanish were mainly jealous, there is no way that this team should have any negative comments about they’re style of play. They pass teams to death and tire out the opponents, its pure genius.

I believe that this nation will continue to grow and build another generation of world class players in every single position on the park, they’re leaving the rest of us behind in they’re coaching standards and this scares me speaking as a Englishman.