FOOTBALL did go home on Sunday night. At least to its modern home. Spain.
Real Madrid are the current holders of the Champions League. Between 2009 and 2019, the Ballon d'Or winners came exclusively from La Liga. Pep Guardiola's influence on the world of football is so vast clubs lower down the pyramid have tried to put in place a more modern ideology. Goalkeepers everywhere are encouraged to pass it out from the back. Kylian Mbappe, widely recognised as one of the world's best players in the game today, is moving to Spain. There is Guardiola's blueprint wherever you look-Mikel Arteta is at Arsenal, Enzo Maresa at Chelsea, Eric ten Haag at Manchester United, Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich and Xavi Hernandez, who called Barcelona home till May. They have all played or learned the grammar of coaching under him. Out of the 52 players who either featured or were on the bench for the final, the guardian had made the point that 27 were coached by a Spanish manager at club level immediately before the start of the European Championship. In the 16 years since the Euros in 2008, the country has lost a grand total of one match in normal time in the knockout stages of a big event (against Italy in 2016). Since 2002, there have been 27 instances of a men's Spanish team in a big (World Cup, Euros, Champions League and Europa League) final. Spanish sides have won on all occasions.
On the basis of this performance against England, the Iberians will continue to have other sides chasing their shadows. Now, they are the sole leaders in terms of Euros with four.
Denne historien er fra July 16, 2024-utgaven av The Morning Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 16, 2024-utgaven av The Morning Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Preparing for Death
Embracing life’s end fosters self-realisation, as diverse cultures offer insights into achieving inner liberation and transcending the physical self
Hearty and Wholesome
From Spain to the Middle East to finally in Mumbai, the popular all-day dining restaurant debuts in India
Making Peace with a Truant River
The swelling waters of the Chalakudy river in Kerala have ruined the tranquil lives of the residents of the Moozhikulam Sala on its shore. But they are not giving up yet
Haunting Tales on Historic Streets
History and the supernatural blend to give a spooky dimension to the world's power capital Washington DC's oldest neighbourhood
Getting an Earful During Diwali
Festival season is when noise rules and people hear loud ringing sounds from inside the ear. Guess what?
The Curious Case of Doctoral Theses
A few days ago, a disturbing news item gained some currency when it arried the disclosure that a leading international journal of science had to retract many research papers published by the journal.
Running Through Life on a High
A long time ago, while working on a novel, I managed to write 8,500 words in a single day.
Pradhan-Clare Trophy has Two Winners Always
The recent drubbing handed over to the Indian cricket team by the visiting Kiwis has come as a rude shock to cricketing fans who have historically had a crackling Diwali.
Why McPoliticians are Changing the System
Everyone says fast food is unhealthy.
Counter the Challenges to Reclaim Civilisational Heritage
Taking off the blindfold from the eyes of the goddess and replacing the sword with a scale obviously isn't enough to get rid of the lingering colonial vestiges.
