Why Spain are Suddenly AMAZING Again! (The Tiki-Taka Paradox)

For the first time in 16 years, the Spanish National Team's remarkable run of 136 consecutive matches with more possession than their opponents has finally ended. In the opening Euro 2024 game of Group B, Croatia had controlled 53% of the ball. However, it was Spain that emerged victorious.

Rather than lament the demise of this possession-based golden era, however, many are heralding it as the dawn of an exciting new chapter for La Roja, who now look like real contenders to win Euro 2024.

In this video, we'll explore Spain's storied successes with 'tiki-taka', explore the key factors driving their shift away from that philosophy, and examine what this could mean for the national team's future.

#euro2024 #spain #laroja

0:00 - Intro
0:37 - Spain's Golden Era
3:20 - The Ugly Side of Tiki Taka
4:41 - Tiki Taka no more?
6:42 - Why Spain are Ditching Tiki Taka
8:40 - How far can Spain go?

*All footage used in the video is for contextual purposes and in no way intended to infringe on intellectual property.
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[FrontPageFootball]

Where will Spain finish at Euro 2024? 🇪🇸👇🏻

A. Round of 16
B. Quarter-finals
C. Semi-finals
D. Final/Winner 🏆

[Llerass]

fun fact: Spain has never been eliminated losing a game since euro 2016. In 2018, 2021 and 2022, Spain was eliminated in penalties

[dokex]

Cucureya is lowkey in every single counter, either by stealing the ball, stoping a play or pivoting to sides fronts. Mad respect

[_----....----_]

Who is here after spain reaching the finals🎉

[TheJamonLance]

imagine a team where silva, fabregas or cazorla were reserves; with puyol, pique and ramos in the back, casillas in the goalie, and the most underrated player ever in spain, villa, in the top. What a dream it was to watch them play and win.

[whickmerlin]

136 games with more possession than oppnets is crazzyyzyz

[Marlic]

The tiki-taka style in the Spanish national team was implemented by Luis Aragonés during Euro 2008, before Guardiola coached Barcelona. Additionally, among Spain's three consecutive titles (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012), I believe the best tiki-taka, with a single defensive pivot, was seen in Euro 2008, as mentioned before Guardiola arrived at Barcelona. Xavi Hernández himself says that Luis Aragonés reinvented him as a player and states, "Luis Aragonés is the most influential person in my sports career." The notion that tiki-taka in the national team comes from Guardiola's Barcelona has become almost a truth by repetition, but the fact is that a year before Guardiola took over at Barcelona, Spain had already amazed the world in Euro 2008 with matches like the one against Russia.

[cojaknepal]

For me as a German, Spain is the favorite in this tournament. If we reach the quarter finals against Spain, we'll probably loose.

[gdnbnlw]

De la fuente is still playing tiki taka, is just that is more vertical than the other past coaches. Because of this the media thought that he was refusing spain's style of play. But in reality is the same thing.
Against Italy Spain did not have that much possession. This is because he tried to adapt to the opponent. But he said that his first priority is the possession, but if he has to be more direct to adapt to the rival, he will.
The idea of play is the same, is just being a little vertical when needed.

[ocksojs]

who thinks spain will win 2026 World cup?

[thesoundhub_]

Something that people always seem to forget is that Guardiola arrived at Barcelona as a coach in the season 2008/2009, right after Spain won the EURO2008. Guardiola only took advantage of what Luis Aragones had built.

[n.n]

People says Spain fell off, but remember they got second at 2021-2022 nations league and won 2023 nations league.

[rmv]

Spain is still playing tiki taka, don't get confused. The players have been raised with that style, they will just change the ways depending on the players they have but the philosophy is the same (Cruyffism). There are no rules against "passing with a fast pace" in tiki taka, they did have a good pace in the 2008 and 2010 teams, but as they grew older and less hungry for titles, they slowed down, as it happens with any team.

With all due respect, this is just a superficial analysis based on recent results. Spain against Croatia was an outlier, Spain isn't that effective usually, they normally need more chances to convert (more like what happened in their match against Italy) and they usually beat their opponents in possession. Don't forget Spain with Luis Enrique reached semi-finals last Eurocup and lost to the champion in penalties, we don't even know if the current team will get that far. Regarding the WC, Morocco also beat Portugal, so they deserved more credit than just blaming tiki taka.

It is normal that when a physical rough team sits deep in a low block parking the bus, Spain will suffer, even the current team or with their best team in history. Let's remember 2010 Spain (the "GOAT"), beat their opponents 1 - 0 and COULD have gone out against Paraguay easily. This trouble against those kind of teams will always exist, and any style of football will look toothless against a good bus parking team that won't take the initiative. You will need players that dribble and beat defenders one on one to gain an advantage, but those kind of players aren't always available.

[javierallende]

What a time to be alive, watch and enjoy the best team in football history!

[ciruelo]

Spain still aim for possesion but instead of reaching it by keeping the ball, they reach it by agressive pressuring enemy possesion. This leads to less possesion percentage but more effective possesion of the ball, more goal reach and quicker defense reaction on counter attacks

[HellowCraft]

Its just the greatest team in football history.

[AC-wlve]

spain looks incredible. they have been my pick to win the euro since the first half i saw them play against croatia. they absolutely smother their opponents offensively and defensively while having the skill to make meaningful plays and goal opportunities.

[vascoespañol]

Tiki Taka was created by Aragones, that was BEFORE Guardiola arrived to Barsa, Tiki Taka wasnt tuned up, but CREATED by Aragones, Spain NEVER EVER played Tiki Taka before Aragones.

[yosephbiniyam]

Who is here after Spain won the finals?

[Azzax]

I don't think they abandoned it. It's just more effective with the wingers they have in the modern game. They still maintain what they are good at, which is their technical ability and moving the ball around, etc