Spain's Final Act | Tiki-Taka's End?

The final act of one of the greatest shows ever

For the past six years Spain have ruled international football. To win three major tournaments in a row is unprecedented and it will be an historical achievement perhaps never to be matched again. What we witnessed last night was the final curtain of this great side. For some people seeing a great champion knocked out and embarrassed brings a sense of joy. They revel in the misfortunes of others, especially when these had been previously been on top. In German it's called schadenfreude, to take pleasure from the misfortunes of others. Yet we shouldn’t take delight from their end but appreciate the whole performance.

This was the final act of a wonderful show. Spain’s adventure these past several years has captivated, delighted and entertained more than perhaps any other. They have revolutionised the modern game, tested boundaries and dominated more than any other before them. Since 2006 Spain's rise to global dominance has been a joy to see. Last night's end was a fitting end to such a glorious story.

Act I - 2006

It all began in the 2006 World Cup with Luis Aragones. Spain were eliminated by France 3-1, ending Spain's 10 match unbeaten run at the World Cup. It was also the first defeat in 26 international matches for the Spaniards. Positive signs were there of Spain's improvement as national side. Post game Aragones said "When players give everything you can't ask any more. They're still young and have another chance in the future."

How right he was, and in those two years following he embraced the kind of football which we associate with tiki-taka. He saw the players he had, knew their strengths and built a philosophy of possession based football from that. He also removed the 'Prince' Raul from the squad, seeking to build a new era for the Spanish. Perhaps it was a revolution, the overthrowing of the monarchy and in its place building a republic. The revolutions leader would be Xavi Hernandez. He would become the key to who Spain were, how they played, how they controlled the tempo.

Act II - 2008

2008 would not be an easy tournament for Spain yet it would be better for that. They overcame their demons, notably defeating Italy on penalties in the quarter finals and reached a final for the first time in 24 years. It was here Aragones told them "You don't play finals, you win them". Spain had developed a winning mentality. Their win over Germany was proof that this was not only a golden era for Spanish football, but that they had found a style which suited them best. However it was decided that Aragones would move on after to be replaced by Del Bosque, a decision the players were not happy with at the time.

Act III - 2010

Yet Del Bosque won the players over with his calm persona, not seeking to change a lot. Yet he did make changes to evolve the side, not big philosophical ones but slight gradual changes of personnel. The core remained and they would go on to win the World Cup in 2010. This was now the greatest side ever. The height of Spanish football. 

Act IV -2012

By this time Spain were showing signs of decline. Barcelona had peaked themselves, with Guardiola leaving after four years in that summer of 2012. Puyol and Xavi, the two key stalwarts of this generation were starting to show signs of fatigue and injury. David Villa, the forward whom had become the key goalscorer of this era was injured. And yet Spain found a way. 

Most notably through Andres Iniesta's playmaking talent and their ability to win 1-0,a result which was proving to be no fluke. Since 2008 Spain had not conceded a single goal in the knockout stages of the three major tournaments. They were seemingly able to control and dominate games with their possession style, closing out games by keeping the ball. With their formidable defence of team pressing with the might of the box of Busquers, Alonso, Pique, Ramos with the world’s best behind them in Casillas. Spain were secure. 

Yet there was a feeling this era was ending, players were ageing and a new force was growing in world football. No, not Germany, but a philosophy which can be said to originate there. We are talking about counter-pressing.

Act V - Brasil

In the final act we witnessed the tragic finale. The end of Spain as we know it. It was inevitable, all great tragedies must have five parts. 

Scene 1 - Del Bosque's Loyalty

It is here where we must look at the coach Vincente Del Bosque. Luis Aragones had two tournaments yet Spain’s Technical Director Fernando Hierro knew a change was needed. This was Del Bosque’s third. And this is where the Spanish FA and he are guilty of loyalty. 

After 2012 it was clear a change was needed. This was evidenced with Barcelona, the side on which Spain had sought to embrace and replicate. If Xavi, Puyol and Villa’s influence here was declining then surely Spain needed to take a new course. Yet like Barca since 2012 it had proven extremely difficult to change a philosophy so embedded. 

Yet this loyalty to a group of players and a philosophy which had served so well clouded the judgement of the coach. A new man may had been firmer in his decision making yet Del Bosque had become too close, had loved the men he had shared such great years with. One cannot blame him for this loyalty, to be so callous was not in his nature and Spain had succeeded previously because of this character. Yet he should have known that Xavi and Xabi Alonso were no longer the players they were. Bring them to be part of the squad yet use them at your peril. 

Scene 2 - Counter-pressing

You see as tiki-taka dominated opponents started to develop the counter-pressing style in order to defeat Barca and bring a new style to the modern game. And it worked. Bayern’s destruction of Barca in 2013 highlighted a dramatic end to the tiki-taka era. The fact that Real Madrid destroyed Bayern Munich a year later playing a philosophy which had changed markedly under Pep Guardiola highlighted not that tiki-taka had died, but that counter-pressing was at this time, more dominant. A 5-0 destruction of a team who the year before had dominated every opponent highlighted a worrying trend in modern football. Counter-pressing was winning, tiki-taka wasn’t. 

It really began in 2010 when Mourinho took his Inter side to treble success, favouring counter-attack and deep defensive blocks over possession. Chelsea won in 2012 with a defensive, counter-attack type performance. Then came counter-pressing’s rise in the form of Bayern and Dortmund and then Atletico and Real Madrid. There was seemingly no place for tiki-taka at the top table anymore. 

Scene 3 - Brasilian influence

Del Bosque was certainly aware of this as his inclusion of Diego Costa proved. To opt for Costa when he was clearly injured showed once more Del Bosque’s failing when he should have seen that the player was not ready to lead the line. And to choose a 'foreigner' when players like Fernando Llorente and Negredo were available was disrespectful to the players and to Spain. 

Perhaps it was calculated to make sure he didn’t play for Brasil and make them stronger yet it was a bad decision by the Spanish FA and Del Bosque. There may have been a need to use Marcos Senna in 2008, yet there was absolutely no need to select the Brasilian, based on one good season, when there were true nationals available who were more than capable of representing their country. Del Bosque got this one tragically wrong.

And here is the real problem with the inclusion of Costa. You cannot simply put a player into your team and become a counter-pressing side. You must build the style throughout your team and make sure every player buys in. Spain in these two games have looked like a side who don’t know who and what they are anymore. This is what has cost them. 

From 2008-2012 they knew who they were, they built their dominance and confidence from this. Yet this time they have looked scared, unsure and ultimately weak. Costa’s introduction has not only affected the balanced and perhaps even the harmony of the side but it has rocked the fabric of this Spanish philosophy. 

If Del Bosque wanted to embrace a more counter-pressing strategy he would have been better suited playing players like Fabregas, Pedro and Koke with Costa as they are more vertical and direct in their play. But was Del Bosque tactically good enough or willing to change this system on which he had prospered these past few years? It seems not. He added a piece which was not going to work yet was not brave or willing to make the changes in style and personell to make this change of benefit. Instead it has proved costly. 

Scence 4 - Aggressive pressure and team cohesion

All this talk of philosophies and styles comes down to the players and the coaches ability to convince the players to sacrifice their all for it.

 Last summer in the final of the Confederations Cup Brasil provided a blueprint of how you can overcome this Spanish side. Aggressive pressure in the mid-third against Spain’s midfield offered many turnovers of the ball and provided many counter attack opportunities. Brasil simply outworked and outmuscled Spain and showed their fallibilities. Spain looked exhausted that day. A never ending competition from 2008 till 2013 had taken its toll on the players. Never has a group of players had to play for so long without a break. It was inevitable that age and fatigue would takes its toll eventually.  

Holland and Chile both outworked, out-thought and ultimately believed more in what they were doing over Spain. They also played a high energy pressing game, using a back three and seeking to transition with longer, vertical passes in order to stretch Spain’s midfield and expose their weak defence. These coaches planned for Spain and their style because they have become predictable in what they do. And so it proved. 

Spain have become tired and slow in a game which requires speed, athleticism and power. Spain used to be able to counter this with lightening quick passing and movement, yet that was then they moved and thought quickly and played as a cohesive unit. The defensive errors highlighted a lack of confidence and trust in the team. It really was the final act of a great champion whose great days are behind him and who cannot compete with the younger, more dynamic challenger.

It was inevitable Spain would struggle to retain their crown. Del Bosque perhaps wanted to give ‘his’ players one last opportunity, surely knowing in his head that they were not capable of achieving success but in his heart appreciating that they deserved a chance after all they'd done previously. It was the loyalty of a general who has spent too long with his soldiers. 

Yet perhaps it is fitting, at the end of all the great tragedies most of the main characters die. Therefore to have Casillas, Xabi Alonso, Xavi and even Iniesta play a part in this final act is fitting. Del Bosque will inevitably resign this summer also which will usher in a new era for Spanish football. A new coach (that choice is not easy or obvious) has a new generation of talent to work with, not to mention the world class talent of players like Ramos, Pique, Busquets, Silva and Fabregas to use. 

Spanish football is not dead, but this part of their history of is. Does this mean tiki-taka is dead also? I think what needs to happen is that it is evolved to suit the needs of the modern game. Tiki-taka became possession in itself with Spain seeking a 1-0 in some form of Italian catenaccio type strategy. Yet the best form of 'tiki-taka' was at its best when Barcelona perfected possession based football in 2010/11, when the objective was to create and score goals, when players moved behind the opposition to seek to penetrate. 

Scene 5 - The Emperor exposed

The style of play we now call and associate with tiki-taka has been proven to not be a method of success in this new era of football. As soon as Holland scored it seemed the whole structure of that philosophy fell apart. Yet for the first 40 minutes of this tournament Spain looked every bit the champion and dominant force they have been. They looked confident and composed. A win seemed inevitable. And then that goal came and their world crumbled in an instant. 

It was a though they were the Emperor walking around with their new clothes. They had convinced everyone that they were superior, it seemed no-one was willing to prove this wrong. They turned up to games with the win secured before even kick off. Yet that goal took away the façade. The manner of it, the audaciousness of it appeared to rock Spain more so than a tap in could ever have. That goal brought down the mirage of Spain and exposed them. Holland sensed it and punished them and Spain simply fell apart. Such mental fragility pointed to a serious flaw in their belief system.. In that second half against Holland we saw the desolation of Spain and this era on which we have been lucky to witness and appreciate. Chile seized on this hesitation, this fear in the Spanish and pressed, harassed and bullied the Spanish. They were brilliant, but ultimately Spain were a shadow of what they were. 

The end of a glorious era should perhaps not end in such tragedy, yet the greatest stories ever told often end this way. Such greatness often needs a brutal end, the story makes more of an impact this way. As a whole it was one of the best shows we have ever seen, we should appreciate what they gave us and anticipate what Spain's new can offer. It does not need drastic changes, it is a case of evolution not revolution which is required. Yet for this story and these characters, the end is upon us.  

Exit stage left

Curtain closes

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