All the superlatives can be used to describe the two time European and one time world champions Spain, with the Manero looking back in time at Spain’s golden generation, the flashback time, 2008 and 2012 Euro Champs sandwiched in between the 2010 World Cup winners, a four year world domination for the Los Toros, the fighting bulls, the golden gladiators, the golden generation, viva Espania, Spain.

The Spanish previously were regarded as underachievers. The success kick started with manager Luis Aragones who laid the foundations with possession football to dominate games, Pep Guardiola’s breeding ground in part, short passing, high technical skill, a high pressing intensity, total football, another term used is tiki-take. The Spaniard’s trophyless years were laid to rest and we have witnessed the history books being rewritten. Spain’s 2008 Euro success belonged to Aragones who changed the fragile, the DNA of the mindset with all connected, to be winners, to be mentally strong, Aragones has instilled in to his players’ DNA, the ghosts of previous tournaments needed to be put to one side, Louis generated a new winning mentality and self-belief to be raised to unstoppable heights which set the tone two years later in 2010 for the then new manager Del Bosque to deliver the World Cup and the 2012 Euros.

Fernando Torres trophy winning goal v Germany in 2008 highlighted the determination of Spain, to live the golden dream of being winners. During the golden period, Spain had the technically gifted players as did the Holland World Cup teams of 1974 and 1978, sadly the Dutch lacked the mental mindset and toughness to be winners, the Dutch were just as gifted as the Spanish. In comparison, England’s golden generation of Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney and Owen failed to deliver. Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has stated that his only regret was not to employ a sports psychologist with in particular the 2006 World Cup when team England arguably having the most talented of players. In opposite mode to Sven, the later down the line incumbent Roy Hodgson, (2012 to 2016) did employ a sport’s psychologist who had theories on how to overcome England’s penalty shootout failures, they failed on all counts, so where do we draw the line on that one? England failed to cross the goal lines, exit upon exit with the penalty shootouts. Another former England manager, Glenn Hoddle’s theory is that the long walk to the penalty spot is where the killer blow is landed, to score or not to score, can the player keep hold of the mental brinkmanship or suffer from the jelly legs wobble. Bizarrely the former World Cup winner but with the oval, oblonged funny shaped ball, rugby of course with the winning coach Sir Clive Woodward entering the football umbrella, not to watch the rain, but to solve English football’s penalty failure. Sir Clive used some kind of rope theory, the full details escape me, Houdini perhaps. Woodward also had an involvement with Southampton FC, but the Saints did not go marching on. To compare the rugby goal kicks, points awarded, where the aerial projection, sky rocket of the ball is different alongside the distance cannot be compared to the round ball, the football, differing concepts, two different skillsets required. Perhaps we could use the crystal ball effect to score the winning penalties with Glenn Hoddle, a sinner or a saint? To prevail with a tea leafer woman to get inside the mindset of team England’s players, the name Eileen Drewery, keep the faith, some kind of faith healer being the title best owed upon one’s self, the project, to score those winning penalties. Glenn’s continued slide downwards but not in the direction of the penalty spot, came with one’s religious beliefs and karma being bestowed on squad England, ‘Praise the Lord’. Further into the blockhead zone and maybe Ian Drury and the blockheads could do the trick “Hit me with your rhythm stick”, to keep one’s rhythm, the long walk to the penalty spot. Maybe the robots could score the winning penalties, to take a leaf out of the German’s pot, sorry Eileen, who always score those winning penalties, so that’s the answer, the robot walk, the robot minds keep the technique spot on, goal, job done!

The issues of playing for one’s country is a totally different experience than playing for their club, the pressure intensifies, the glare of the football world, each nation’s expectations create added pressure, making the leap from club to country can become a burden for many payers, many have fallen by the wayside. The range of the quality players to represent England has been restricted to a degree with the overseas brigade plying their trade in English football, strangely in the current climate Gareth Southgate has a wide crop of riches (players) to choose from, we can now compete at the top echelons with possibilities to win tournaments. So why the wind of change, are English players being given more opportunities with club’s Premier League first teams? Is that the explanation, the given answer, possibly. To compare and reflect in time.

During Roy Hodgson’s tenure twenty five percent ratio of English players in the Premiership were available for Roy to choose from, prior to this the rate had fallen to an abject ten percent ratio during Fabio Capello’s three year stint. Is it possible that the stat level has raised the ante since Roy Hodgson, no has to be the answer, a mystery? Team England’s success under Southgate has shown marked improvements with young players entering the fray. The answer may hold firm with Southgate’s flexibility and vision to give young talent opportunities, as opposed to previous managers in part, who would stay with the old guard, Gareth’s differing management style is to bear long term growth, continued evolvement, development to bear fruition. To compare viva Espania, Spain who generally have an abundance of Spanish players in La Liga, with the norm being of a seventy five percent ratio of Spanish players for the manager to choose from. Spain during the last two decades revamped their coaching system to develop young talented players. The 2008, 2012 Euro Champions and the 2010 World Cup winners trophies followed but continuation to evolve at the same level cannot always be maintained, consistent expectations does bring its own pressures.

The Champions League in example mode is an extension of international football with players stretching to use their full repertoire of skill to the maximum level. To survive in the unforgiving environment of the Champions League you need the skillset, discipline, with a strong iron will in the team. For the managers and players, European football stretches the mental borders, to suggest a higher level of input is required as opposed to club football, a devaluing of standards and teams will be punished. The standard bearers have been the Real Madrid, make the connection to the Spanish national team, the passing of time with Spain’s golden generation.