The future is ours

Spain has once again built a winning project with a recipe that requires patience but guarantees success: working from the base. Among the 24 summoned there are 22 titles in lower categories (U17, U19 and U21 Euro Cups), conquered by 13 players. Luis Enrique has mixed two winning generations of youth. One, that of the Thiago, Morata or Sarabia, who were called to continue the golden age and did not succeed. Another, that of recent successes (Ferran, Èric, Olmo …). Only three footballers (Robert Sánchez, Laporte and Gerard) have not played any game with the Spanish inferiors, although in the case of the central defender it is because he was not eligible (he played 51 duels with the French inferiors). In addition, eleven of the 24 summoned have not yet reached the age of 26.

A bet that has worked sooner than expected. “There are a lot of players with eight or ten caps. This selection project was more thinking about the World Cup, but it is maturing and we are already there looking into the eyes of the greats. Why not dream? “, Said Luis Rubiales in the SER.”We have had fruits earlier than expected. It is a success of all Spanish football “, he added. The president gave, since his arrival, great importance to the base. He relied on José Francisco Molina, sports director, and both appointed Francis Hernández (43 years old) as coordinator of the lower categories at the end of 2018. The task was not easy, because he was replacing Ginés Meléndez, who had been in the RFEF since 2002 accumulating trophies.

Successes have occurred in recent years: European Under-21 champions in 2019, Under-19 in 2015 and in 2019 and Under-17 in 2017. In those triumphs, players who are now in the Absolute have been fundamental: Ferran scored a double in the 2019 U19 Eurocup final and Dani Olmo scored a goal in the 2019 U21 final.

In 2018, Celades' departure caused a domino effect: Luis de la Fuente went to the Sub-21 and Santi Denia to the Sub-19. Much importance was also given to Julen Guerrero, who recently took over the reins of the U-17 after being the U-16 coach previously. That role is key, because one of the changes that Francis Hernández brought was the recruitment of U-14s, advancing the age at which players begin to follow. For this, the tournaments of the territorial teams, which were Sub-16 and Sub-18, became Sub-14 and Sub-16, with the aim of facilitating the work done by the Federation. Changes that pay off even earlier than expected …

Ten different trophies

The 24 summoned have given Spain 22 titles in the youth teams: three Under-21 European Cups (2011, 2013 and 2019), four Under-19s (2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019) and three Under-17s (2007, 2008 and 2017) . The trophies, divided by players, are distributed as follows: Unai Simón (Under-19 2015 and Under-21 2019), De Gea (Under-17 2007 and Under-21 2011 and 2013), Èric García (Under-17 2017 and Under -19 2019), Azpilicueta (U19 2007), Rodri (U19 2015), Koke (U21 2013), Fabián (U21 2015), Thiago (U17 2008, U21 2011 and 2013), Dani Olmo (U21 2019), Oyarzabal (U21 2019), Ferran (U17 2017 and U19 2019), Sarabia (U19 2011 and U21 2013) and Morata (U19 2011 and U21 2013).