2 hours ago Spain into quarter-finals aft Merino's precocious victor against Portugal
ByAdwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist
In 2010, Spain dazzled the shot satellite with their tiki-taka connected their mode to World Cup glory successful South Africa.
Powered by the midfield brilliance of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, and the goals of David Villa, they became 1 of the astir iconic sides to person played successful the tournament's storied history.
With their beardown Barcelona halfway and the tactical acumen of Vicente del Bosque, they secured their first-ever rubric with short, intricate passes and relentless movement, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 successful the final.
Spain present basal 3 wins from a 2nd triumph aft defeating Portugal 1-0 successful the past 16 connected Monday - conscionable similar they did successful Cape Town 16 years ago.
But if Spain are to get their hands connected the trophy again successful New Jersey connected 19 July, they whitethorn person their defence, alternatively than their attack, to thank.
"This squad knows however to compete," Spanish shot adept Guillem Balague told BBC Sport. "It is simply a radical that is committed, they each deliberation the aforesaid way."
'Solidarity, effort, sacrifice' - De La Fuente's mantra
Image source, Getty Images
Luis de la Fuente became Spain caput manager successful 2022
Spain person an array of attacking endowment and midfield riches that would beryllium the envy of astir nations.
Mikel Oyarzabal has scored 17 goals successful his past 17 starts for La Roja and 18-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal is backmost to afloat fitness, portion Pedri continues to propulsion the strings successful midfield with enactment from 2024 Ballon d'Or victor Rodri.
Yet it is astatine the different extremity of the transportation wherever the Spaniards person built the foundations of their latest World Cup challenge.
Luis de la Fuente's broadside person reached the quarter-finals without conceding a extremity and are the lone squad yet to beryllium breached astatine the tourney aft co-hosts Mexico shipped three against England successful the past 16.
They are the archetypal squad successful World Cup past to support a cleanable expanse successful six consecutive matches, breaking wide of the erstwhile people acceptable by Italy (1990) and Switzerland (2006-10).
They person present gone 10 hours and 9 minutes without conceding successful the contention - stretching backmost to a goalless gully successful the past 16 successful 2022, erstwhile Morocco precocious done penalties.
"This is the effect and fruits of corporate enactment - large antiaircraft solidity of course," said De La Fuente aft their triumph against Portugal.
"There is solidarity, effort, sacrifice and everybody runs for 1 another. Every shot thought is contiguous precise clearly, but what is beauteous is the cognition these footballers show, they are committed to the cause."
That antiaircraft solidity begins with Unai Simon.
The Spain goalkeeper continues to rewrite past arsenic helium extended his singular tally without letting successful a extremity astatine the World Cup to a grounds 609 minutes, keeping Cristiano Ronaldo and institution astatine bay successful Dallas.
"Portugal dictated astir of the game, but Rafael Leao did not connection that other spark, neither did the different substitutes," said Balague.
"Spain defended successful numbers and collectively, they tracked backmost a lot. They individually sorted retired problems. So we haven't needed a occurrence prevention from Simon."
During this tournament, Simon has surpassed Walter Zenga's people of 517 consecutive minutes without conceding for Italy, arsenic good arsenic his compatriot Iker Casillas' benchmark of 476.
Ahead of Simon, Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi are astatine the bosom of their defence, portion Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella supply the width from full-back.
That back-four has started 3 of Spain's 5 matches astatine this World Cup truthful far, with Marcos Llorente deputising for Porro astatine right-back successful the different two.
Balague added: "It besides helps that Rodri is reaching his champion mentation and helium has had 2 bonzer games - helium is the lighthouse of the team.
"The concern betwixt Laporte and Cubarsi is cleanable for the mode Spain plays - moving the shot around, driving with it, and defending with a batch of abstraction successful behind."
'There's truthful overmuch much to travel from Spain'
Image source, Getty Images
Spain are yet to concede a extremity astatine this World Cup
Spain's travel since their 2010 World Cup triumph has not precisely been creaseless sailing.
Although they retained the European Championship successful 2012, their consequent World Cup campaigns person brought small joyousness arsenic they suffered back-to-back group-stage exits earlier being eliminated successful the archetypal knockout circular 4 years ago.
But now, returning to the tourney arsenic reigning European champions, Spain person a squad that looks susceptible of returning them to the pinnacle of satellite football.
"It wasn't a large show but you consciousness determination is truthful overmuch much to travel from Spain," said erstwhile England striker Chris Sutton connected BBC Radio 5 Live.
"The information that they are not conceding arsenic good is ominous for different teams. Their toughest trial volition travel against France if they some triumph their games.
"I deliberation Spain are susceptible of beating France but they'll person to beryllium adjacent cleanable connected the day."
But earlier that, De La Fuente's broadside volition look to support their bully tally going erstwhile they conscionable either co-hosts United States oregon Belgium successful the quarter-finals connected Friday.
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