Euro 2024: Spain Road to the Final, Squad and Tactical Analysis

This summer, Spain will be looking to win a record-breaking fourth European Championship.

Spain is the equal most successful team in the history of the European Championship, having won it in 1964, 2008, and 2012. Following their semi-final exit in 2020, they hope to advance in the competition again. In the last four, La Roja eventually saw their luck run out against eventual winners Italy, losing on penalties to exit Euro 2020. Having won all three of their knockout phase games in the group stages, they defeated Switzerland and Croatia before losing to the Azzurri at Wembley.

Then they were let down in the World Cup in Qatar when they were defeated 3-0 on penalties by Morrocco to reach the quarterfinals and once more have their tournament end in a lottery of spot kicks. They are fourth favorites this season to become the first team in the league's history to win the illustrious trophy four times, and they will be difficult to defeat with Rodri from Manchester City leading the way in midfield and emerging players like Pedri and Nico Williams.

The possible knockout stage opponents of Spain

Spain will play the best third-placed team from either Group A/D/E/F in the round of sixteen if they win Group B; their opponents are either Scotland, Austria, or Turkey. The Group A victor or Group C runner-up—probably Germany—will play in the quarterfinals. Should Spain go to the semi-finals by this route, they will probably play Belgium or Portugal if they win their group. Then, in the final, France most certainly.

Essential players for Spain at the European Championship this year

Top Euros for Spain Golden Boot contender: Alvaro Morata

Important statistic: Alvaro Morata scored the most goals for Spain in the European Championships.

Having scored 15 goals for Real Madrid during the 2016–17 campaign, Alvaro Morata is on track to establish a new personal high for goals in a single top-flight league season with 14 goals in his first 26 LaLiga appearances this season. The Pichichi is still within reach, with 1.2 shots on goal per game and trailing LaLiga top scorer Jude Bellingham by only two goals.

In addition, the Atleti player has an outstanding record of scoring goals for the national team—34 goals in only 69 games—and is the first player in national history to score three or more goals in consecutive European Championship competitions—three goals in 2016 and 2020.

It wouldn't be the biggest surprise if Morata scored a hat-trick, given that Fernando Torres and David Villa have won the Golden Boot in two of the last four championships.

Morata scored four goals in six games to rank as Spain's joint-top scorers in Euro 2024 qualification.

Spain's primary playmaker: Alex Grimaldo

Important statistic: In the top five leagues in Europe this season, Alex Grimaldo is the only defender with more than 100 touches in the opponent's box.

Though not the first option for his nation, Alex Grimaldo has been in outstanding form at club level this season and is ready to lead Xabi Alonso and his Bayer Leverkusen team to the Bundesliga championship. With scoring nine goals and accumulating more touches inside the opposition box than any other defender in Europe's top five leagues this season, the 28-year-old has given out the joint-most assists of any player in Europe, tied with Leroy Sane on 11.

He is the first player in Bundesliga history (starting in 2004–05) to score or assist in his first six away games. He also excels at free kicks, having scored two in his first six games played.

Spanish card magnets and elite tacklers: Rodri

Important statistic: Rodri's eight yellow cards this season in the Premier League are the joint-most he has ever received in a single league campaign.

Rodri has only committed 32 fouls in the Premier League this season, yet he has been shown eight yellow cards—three more than he was in the 2021/22 and 2022–2023 seasons. The Man City player mainly receives bookings for blocking counterattacks while the opponent is in transition, not for the quantity of fouls he commits. Recognizing when your team is in danger and halting the counterattack has been a critical talent that Pep Guardiola's teams have always been guilty of (in the most incredible sense).

Along with collecting more bookings this season, Rodri has contributed to more league goals—six and five assists.

Spain Tactical Analysis

Working with the U19, U21, and U23 teams, Luis de la Fuente has shaped some of the youngsters he will now be working with within the senior squad, so he will already benefit from the players understanding of how he operates.

Although Rodri, the midfield maestro of Manchester City, is the focal point of Spain's 4-4-3 formation, his full-backs are the keystone of his setup. With Alex Grimaldo, Pedro Porro, Alejandro Balde, and Gaya at his disposal, he has a squad of full-backs that can play forward, almost as a wing-back type of hybrid as Grimaldo and Porro have been accustomed to playing for their club sides with remarkable success.

Along with Rodri, one of the finest holding midfielders, de la Fuente has Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, and Mikel Merino to make a midfield full of talent, tenacity, and players who can choose a ball when required.

Alvaro Morata is expected to spearhead the attack again following an outstanding season with Atletico Madrid, having scored 19 goals in both the Champions League and LaLiga. Fast and deft Nico Williams, who has been linked to many elite teams this summer, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and adolescent wonder Lamine Yamal are predicted to flank him.

Unai Simon is anticipated to remain at the goal. However, he will compete with Alex Remiro of Real Sociedad and David Raya of Arsenal (who is on loan from Brentford right now).

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