The European underdog: Can Spain win Euro 2024?

While some analysts and pundits predict the English, German, or French national teams as clear favourites to win the Euro 2024, a silent underdog looms in the background, ready to cause a historic upset. The Spanish national team, often referred to as 'La Roja', is looking to end their 12-year drought with what could be their fourth Euro title, bringing tiki-taka back to its former glory.

'La Roja' will have to survive 'the group of death' in which they will face Italy, Croatia, and Albania. A serious test for the young squad of players, looking to send Spain forward in the tournament. Only the first three will advance to the next round. One thing is for sure, we are in for some quality football!

Euro 2024 will be a football spectacle, with some of the best national teams in the world going head-to-head. The betting houses are leaning towards England and France as the clear favourites. Ironically, Italy, Portugal, and Spain are some of the least likely to win the title, according to the bookies. Yet, for the past 20 years, the Euro title has stayed around the Mediterranean Sea...

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There seems to be general uncertainty about Spain's ability to produce results. Nevertheless, "Spain may be overlooked by many, but strong identity makes them a force to be reckoned with at Euro 2024," according to The Analyst.

However, if we look back at the performance of 'La Roja' in the last major international tournament, the Spanish national team was not up to par. Luis Enrique's men fell short against Morocco in the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Now, with a new coach and a new heading, the team seems to reinforce itself within the widespread doubts. During their qualifying phase, the only lost to Scotland, producing 7 wins and 25 goals against five opponents, according to Transfermarkt.

Another reason for hope was their great victory in the 2022-2023 UEFA Nations League. In the semifinals of the tournament, which was held in June 2023, Spain defeated Italy (2-1).

As for the group itself, among the 29 selected by Luis de la Fuente, there are some serious talents present in the squad. While the team might lack any 'stars', De la Fuente's team can boast of good team cohesion. The same philosophy of Luis Aragones and Vicente del Bosque applied to their squads back in 2008-2012, during the golden era of Spanish football.

The 'DNA' of 'La Roja' is well known to everyone: tactical discipline and team play, with a lot of possession in the midfield. Explore spaces, and keep the tempo of the game with short passes.

A tactic that has worked very well since the days of Luis Aragones, but that also has its drawbacks, especially when faced with very defensive and organized teams at the back, where, yes, Spain tends to get stuck. Success in the Euros will depend on their ability to adapt.

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Among the players who will go to Germany with the Spanish national team, the existing mix between youth and seniority also stands out, where some contribute strength and youthfulness (Lamine Yamal, Iñaki Williams, Fermín...) and the others the experience of years on the playing fields (Nacho, Laporte, Carvajal, Rodri, Morata...)

The hunger and ambition to win the Euros is not limited to those emerging talents, but also to most veterans who see how it has been 12 years since a major title has been won, that great European Championship of 2012 against Italy. It will be another key point for the 'La Roja'... To fight till the end.

Spain has a rocky defense, a great midfield - where Rodri stands out especially, as the team's centre pillar, in addition to Zubimendi, Pedro, or Baena - and an attack with young talents such as Lamine Yamal or Iñaki Williams, in addition to the experience of Morata, Joselu or Oyarzabal.

Image: Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)

Obviously, due to history, Spain must always be taken into account in championships like this, and even more so if it is a European Championship, where it is the team with the most titles along with Germany (3).

Luis de la Fuente himself is one of those who is most confident that Spain can cause an upset at the Euros in Germany: "I think we are ready to fight to win, there are some teams that have the same level and are in the same position. Everything depends on small details and we have the potential to win," he said in statements reported by RTVE.

"I am very optimistic. We have every chance of fighting for the title (...) We are going to fight to win and we are going to be in a position to win, but we are going to compete against teams as powerful as us. I am sure that Spain is going to be proud of us," said the coach on 'Radioestadio Noche', on Onda Cero.

Confidence and energy are up in the Spanish squad, as stated in other statements in the newspaper El Mundo: "We always look up. We have a very good foundation, a lot of present, and, most importantly, a lot of future. This is not the time to compare ourselves with others, it will be the competition that makes us or takes us away."

The ball is set to roll on June 15th, where Spain will face Croatia first before facing Italy next (June 19th). The Spaniards will then face Albania (June 24) in what will be a long and hard road to glory. Will Spain reach the final? Let us know what you think in the comments!

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