The return of Luis Enrique the Spanish team could not have a better grade than an outstanding. Almost two years later, ‘Lucho’ sat in the band and made ‘Roja’ look like the team he started leading but had to stop at a forced march. You could even see an improved version, with a clear stamp of its own in the game and the will to regenerate the squad, being daring in the call and also in the eleven starters and substitutions. The result of all this was reflected in the field. A more than good image against the power of Germany, settled with a deserved draw ‘in extremis’, and all this endorsed against Ukraine, with a superb match, accompanied by a debut as a starter dreamed of by Ansu Fati. And with changes, many, that have given a twist to a Spain that had many times been accused of being flat in its style of play, which has now found its version 2.0 at the hands of Luis Enrique
Suffocating pressure
The Spanish team has entered fully into what has been called modern football, in which the rival team is no longer allowed to breathe. Luis Enrique showed it in two games, who decided to put a high block on the pressure, that would not let the rival think and stifle his output of the ball, with a lot of work from the three players above and from the center of the field. Also in the management of pressure after loss, with a team working in a few meters and recovering the ball very quickly, without suffering behind their backs either.
Pure ends
Another change, and a very important one, is the new paradigm in the most advanced band players. Luis Enrique wants to have pure wingers, who widen the field, face and look for the area both to shoot and to find an area with their centers. Fati, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Jesús Navas, the four who played in that position, did so always starting from stepping on the line, to sometimes find some interior position, but always controlling to advance, or looking for the back of the defense. Get there well, but faster than before.
Generational relief
The good news, perhaps the greatest, is that ‘Lucho’ began to take the first steps towards what the national team has needed for so long: generational change. Up to five footballers made their debut against Germany and Ukraine and none of them were older than 24 years. Mikel Merino (24), Eric Garcia (19), Ansu Fati (17), Ferran Torres (20) and Óscar Rodríguez (22) They gave a new air to the team, contributing their desire, self-confidence and disagreement, showing that the bases of a new team can coexist with the helm of players like Ramos, Thiago or Busquets. Good combination
Rodri, De Gea and Pau Torres, proper names
This journey of Nations League in which Spain shone again as long ago it also served to see who the proper names may be in the face of the future and present of La Roja. Beyond what was already known, how they are Sergio Ramos, Thiago Alcántara or Fabián, Luis Enrique took the opportunity to clear doubts and mark the roadmap according to which capital positions. The first, and most important, the goal. The ‘Red’ coach continued to bet, as he did at the time, to keep David De Gea in the frame and he responded in spades, with a memorable performance against Germany. The pleasant surprise was to have found a guarantee center. Pau Torres, left-handed, he acted wonderfully as a left center-back and he got on so well with Ramos that it will be strange if he doesn't repeat and take hold, making Pique forget. And what to say about Rodri, already called to succeed Busquets, a key piece also for ‘Lucho’, although he still trusts Sergio