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How Winning Euro 2008 Changed the Mindset of Spanish Football
Published: September 11, 2013
Hard to believe then, that just five years ago the Furia Roja were universally regarded as chokers, underachievers who would never make it in a World Cup or European Championship.
2008 changed the story for the nation and sent them on the way to greatness.
Football observers for decades scratched their heads over the failure of Spanish sides to fulfil their promise. It was hardly that they needed more quality. Striking legend Raul, for example, carried the flag for 10 years while winning everything with Real Madrid. 102 appearances, 44 goals and three World Cups, and the best the legend could achieve in football's biggest competition was a solitary quarter-final finish.
Gaizka Mendieta, Emilio Butragueno, Fernando Hierro, Luis Enrique, Laszlo Kubala: The list of superstars who passed their Spain careers without glory is endless.
For that reason, one can see exactly why success in Euro 2008 was so vital to the nation. Spain entering the tournament, with a team as usual packed with talent, fighting their habitual enemy. Not Italy, nor Germany, nor France, but themselves and that very fear of losing once more.
Looking back five years ago, there were plenty of opportunities for self-destruction. In two of the opening group matches, against Sweden and Greece, it took goals in the final minutes to secure victory. Come the last eight, the old ghosts of the knockout stages took hold as Italy held la Roja to a draw, pushing the game into penalties.
The first sign of change had appeared, though, as Spain triumphed in the shootout, and subsequent wins over Russia and Germany granted them their first victory in the Eu...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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