A 5-Point Plan to Take Spain to Euro 2016 Glory
It ended after a treble, and yet in a way, the treble is still on.
For Spain, though the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil brought an end to their historic run in major international tournaments that featured three successive titles, in Europe alone, the streak is still alive.
Following their capture of the UEFA European Championship in 2008 and 2012, Vicente del Bosque's side enters Euro 2016 in France looking to claim an unprecedented third straight crown on the continent.
According to Del Bosque, Spain "are the favourites" because they are the holders, but this time around, La Roja aren't surrounded by the same feeling of supremacy. This is a team in a transitional phase, one in which a number of new faces are looking to push through a period of evolution in terms of style and tactical approach.
It's a delicate time. Though their depth of talent remains extraordinary, Spain are essentially caught between protecting what has worked so brilliantly in the past and discovering what will work in the future. Del Bosque, though, insists his team is only looking ahead.
"Lessons have been learned [from the World Cup] and we will put them into practice at the European Championship," the manager told Marca.
If lessons have been been learned, it will need to be demonstrated by strong decisions in a number of areas from Del Bosque.
Across the following slides, we examine where those decisions lie to map out a five-point plan for Spanish glory.
Don't Shy Away from 2-Striker Systems
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Everyone is well aware of it: Spain's dominance in general play doesn't always translate to dominance on the scoreboard. That was the case even throughout their title-winning peak, and it's still relevant now.
Two of the primary issues in this have been a lack of potent scorers who naturally fit within the team's structure and Del Bosque's reluctance until now to sacrifice a degree of control in order to add a different dimension to the side.
And it's the second point that needs addressing at Euro 2016.
In Alvaro Morata and Aritz Aduriz, Spain possess two strikers who can complement each other in a forward pairing. The former brings pace and a desire to play on the shoulder of the defence; the latter provides aerial ability, back-to-goal qualities, the ability to link up and neat finishing with both feet. But the most important thing is that they bring a striker's instinct, and Spain could do with more of that.
To support the pair, La Roja could use a number of shapes and central combinations (you can see a tactical breakdown here), and the potential of a midfield diamond strikes as immense.
A two-striker system is highly unlikely to be Del Bosque's first choice, but the use of such systems shouldn't be shied away from.
In tight affairs, using both Morata and Aduriz will completely change the task for Spain's opponents. Particularly in second halves, the different dynamic they can provide is an invaluable tool to have available.
Trust Nolito
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Speaking of goals and dynamism, Nolito is another man who can provide just that.
In Spain's warm-up games thus far against Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Korea, the Celta Vigo star has bagged himself two goals on each occasion, his finishes in the first of those outings particularly impressive. And that wasn't a surprise.
Throughout the 2015-16 season, Nolito consistently sparkled at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos with his trickery, strong dribbling skills and shooting prowess that blends power with finesse to be one of La Liga's outstanding players. He finished the season with 12 goals and seven assists from the wing, and that was in a campaign interrupted by injury midway through.
At Euro 2016, the free-scoring 29-year-old can offer a threat from the wide berths that none of his team-mates can match, and if Del Bosque opts for a 4-3-3 as his primary system as is expected, Nolito must be given the left-sided post ahead of the more familiar Pedro.
As explained in depth here, he stands as Spain's surprise weapon.
Go Bold at the Full-Back Posts
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One of the common problems Spain face is the success tightly packed defences often have against their narrow shape.
In a 4-3-3 featuring three central conductors and two wide forwards consistently cutting inside (David Silva from the right; Nolito or Pedro in this case from the left), La Roja often have their six most advanced players operating within the width of the penalty area. It will be similar if a midfield diamond is adopted to supply two strikers.
Thus, width provided by full-backs is essential.
For Spain, the options are varied here. In Juanfran and Cesar Azpilicueta, Del Bosque has a pair of consistent and reliable options, while in Jordi Alba and Hector Bellerin, he has two extremely aggressive wide defenders.
At Euro 2016, it would be great to see Del Bosque use at least one or possibly both of the latter two.
Indeed, given the control Spain's brilliant midfield can offer, the use of Alba and Bellerin can greatly aid La Roja's ability to score. Both men possess blistering pace and an ability to penetrate the box from out wide, which could provide Alvaro Morata and/or Aritz Aduriz with a steady supply of drilled crosses and pull-backs.
There is risk involved in such an approach, but it's a risk worth taking.
David De Gea Must Start
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It shouldn't even be a point of discussion, but somehow it still is.
When Del Bosque was asked on Monday whether David De Gea or Iker Casillas would start in goal at Euro 2016, he said a decision was yet to be made.
"It's possible that De Gea will play tomorrow [against Georgia]—Casillas did so against South Korea and that's all we can say," the Spain manager told a press conference. "I don't have to make that decision now, and I'll make my mind up at a later date."
Del Bosque, of course, is the ultimate diplomat and therefore such a response wasn't a surprise, but if Spain are to be triumphant in France, De Gea must start.
Right now, the Manchester United gloveman is comfortably among the three best goalkeepers in the world and has won the Player of the Year award at United three seasons running. Casillas, meanwhile, is perhaps as many as five years past his prime and can no longer offer what De Gea can despite being an undisputed icon of the Spanish game.
It shouldn't even be a point of discussion.
Del Bosque Must Avoid Trappings of Loyalty and Familiarity in Crunch Moments
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This final point is the one that will govern the previous four: Can Del Bosque trust form over reputation? Can he shake off some of his conservatism? Can he look ahead and not back?
The answers to those questions will define Spain's tournament at Euro 2016.
In the crunch moments in France, and there will be plenty of them, Del Bosque needs to avoid the trappings of familiarity and loyalty. Those are two of the overriding themes of his successful tenure, but amid a transitional phase, holding onto them tightly will only hold Spain back.
When the pressure ramps up, Del Bosque needs to trust the form of Nolito over his affinity with Pedro. He needs to steer away from the comfort of Iker Casillas. He needs to believe in the potency of two-striker systems to change games. At times, he has to be prepared to gamble.
If he does, Spain will have a great chance to complete a treble of European Championships.
