Spain is the epitome of champion qualities
It is no doubt a terrific experience to watch a great team like Spain battles it out with other nations to defend their European Championship title. While everyone enjoys talking about how great Xabi Alonso or Iniesta plays, little do they understand what it takes to play so well? Getting to play well is much easier than consistently playing well, which Spain have been doing for so long.
Spain’ coach. Vincete del Bosque, pointed out after the match which Spain won against Croatia that his players do not progress to hug each other. The match may have been very important, as it was the means to progress to the knockout stage, but the players did not manifest it.
Instead the players consider even such high profile matches as just another match. They have set a goal to win the European title, and winning a match is but a small step towards achieving that goal. The match was very small indeed compared the huge target they have set. This is attitude is not that of being complacent, it that of setting high standards.
Once France was out of the tournament losing to Spain, the media instantly became keen in finding out how much celebration the players would be indulging in. During the last World Cup in South Africa, the players partied hard through the night after defeating Portugal and Germany.
The media was critical about gaining the knowledge of how the Spanish players appreciated their fans. The fans had travelled far from Spain to Poland and Ukraine to see their heroes play. They naturally expect that the players would acknowledge their support at the end of every match.
The Spain football team’s assistant coach, Toni Grande, revealed that the players had celebrated somewhat in the dressing rooms after emerging victorious. But it was very subdued compared to what would take place earlier. A true celebration can only be seen if the Spaniards manage to bring back the trophy home. Joy would know no bounds then.
There is confusion among the football experts if such subdued celebrations are a positive or negative signal. The truth is that the players have such high expectations that any other victory, other than the one which gets the trophy in their hands, will not satisfy them. Striving continuously to be better every time is the true mark of a champion.
Cesc Fabregas rightfully said, “It is not always possible to keep the fans in mind with such tremendous pressures looming over. They support us always, and we try to give performances in return.”
