The Spanish international team has took the world by storm in recent years, dominating world football particularly in the last six or seven years having won two UEFA European Football Championships as well of course as their historic 2010 world Cup triumph.
Unfortunately for their rivals there seems to be no end in sight to their supremacy highlighted by their next generation of stars who themselves have made clear that Spain are dominant at all ages.
The Spain U19 squad have won the last two UEFA European U19 Championships back to back as well as being runners up the year before – showing the youth can be just as consecutive as the first team national side. However, the stepping stone between the U19’s and the first team is of course playing for your countries U21’s – these players are branded “the stars of tomorrow.” So could the U21 team keep the tradition going and win back to back major honours having already won the last European Championships back in 2011.
Well, on Tuesday 18th June they had the chance as they came up against Italy U21’s in the 2013 European Championship final. The route to the final for Spain was made to look pretty easy as they reached the final without playing near their best or even without any real threats despite fending off some tough opposition.
With the Spanish side starting the match as favourites, the game was barely six minutes old when the Spanish captain, Thiago, found the back of the net making it 1-0. Already the game looked over. However, it was not to be as just 4 minutes later the Italians struck back with a lovely chip over David De Gea from Immobile levelling the game at 1-1 with less than ten minutes on the clock! What the followed showed the Spanish youth out class Italy in all aspects of the game. A further two goals from the captain completed a first half hat-trick from Thiago after fellow Barcelona team mate Cristian Tello was brought down for a penalty which Thiago converted sending the two teams in at half time with the score line 3-1 Spain.
The second half was more of the same with Spain again playing delightful football and having the greater share of the possession. On the 66th minute a second penalty was awarded to Spain and was successfully converted – This time by Manchester City target Isco, 4-1. The game was all but over before as Liverpool striker Fabio Borini added a late conciliation goal making it a more respectable 4-2 score line.
However, 4-2 in finished and Spain U21’s were victorious once again as they lifted the trophy to celebrate their own back to back success in the competition. After now confirming that Spain currently have the number one national side in the world as well as the best youth in their continent it begs the question can anybody stop Spain? And for long will they reign at the top?
