The least Real Madrid Spain
Written by Ruairidh Barlow
“At halftime we had already said to be careful with Japan and look, as soon as we started we went into collapse mode. I have nothing to celebrate, I’m not happy at all. If Japan had needed two more, they score them,” boiled Luis Enrique Martínez, after Spain had fumbled their glass of fine wine football and watched it smash on the floor. The stain of La Roja did not come out the carpet.
As much as anything, it seemed he was frustrated that they had not heeded his warning. His team dominated the first half, taking Japan by the scruff of their neck. Álvaro Morata’s third goal of the tournament gave them the advantage they were looking for, but thereafter, their grip slackened.
Following the break, Japan stormed the Spain defence, overrunning them for just enough time to get what they needed from the match. The clinical manner of the those ten minutes, the way they managed the game thereafter, and their appreciation of momentum, were expert.
Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio were not on the pitch for that quickfire double, and if they had been, it probably would not have made too much difference. Last summer the media in Spain raised themselves in dramatic umbrage with Luis Enrique for not including a single Real Madrid player in his squad, whereas he has two this time round. Yet if Spain are missing one thing from their side, it was a bit of Real Madrid.
“Football is inexplicable,” Luis Enrique glared. “Explain now that Japan have dominated you for 10 minutes and that you have lost.” This does not feel like a unique scene though. If this has been a weakness that has plagued some of the possession-based sides, often blessed with quality, it was the primary reason that the Spanish champions last year became the European champions. Carlo Ancelotti, aware of the limitations of his side, did not bother trying to win each match for ninety minutes, but his team did understand what they needed to do and when.
After increasing their run of games with over 60% of possession to 28 games, La Roja enjoyed 83% of the ball against Japan, more than the in their draw and victory. Once again they broke the 1,000 pass barrier (1,058), a number now plucked from an argument about dominance, and instead used as a blunt instrument to show Spain’s impotency.
Regardless of how much of the ball a team has, the quality of the opposition at these heights means that in 99% of games, Spain’s opponents will have a spell. Costa Rica were the exception, Germany had theirs and got a draw, while Japan maximised their resources with, well, Japanese efficiency.
Imposing a dominant era based on dominance of the ball, it is entirely logical that Spain should pursue a model of play that has been imbibed by their players since they were preteens. That idea was based on the same school of philosophy taught in Barcelona, and like Spain, Barcelona have struggled to repeat similar successes since their star forwards began departing in 2017. There are seven of the Blaugrana amongst the current squad, which is neither a criticism, a complement nor a point in itself – it is evidence of the continuation of that idea though.
Luis Enrique is attempting an updated version of what brought them trophies a decade ago, installing quirks of movement and positioning for the current era. Spain also benefitted from the fact that in international football, other sides also have imperfections, just as they battle with their own shortcomings.
A person as steely as Luis Enrique will always pursue perfection and double down on his convictions in the face of criticism. Accepting that it is impossible though, what he and his players, must figure out is how to master those swings in momentum. Rolling with the blows, absorbing shifts in momentum, adjusting your stance quicker, whether you compare it to boxing, surfing or fencing, dealing with the parts of football where you are not in control is a fluid art.
Reading those moments correctly is perhaps the most difficult part of the game at the top level and it explains Real Madrid’s success last season as much as anything else. The European semi-finals, the Nations League, the Japan defeat, those adversities will bring Spain closer to doing so. Spain might win the World Cup, and they probably won’t – their success hinges largely on the ability to retain their balance when they lose control.