Spain have reached their second World Cup final after overcoming France.
Reigning European champions Spain made light work of Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final against France to set up their second showpiece in the space of 16 years.
Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro gave Luis de la Fuente’s side hopes of emulating their 2010 success as England or Argentina await them on 19 July.
Spain’s international success secret revealed
La Roja have now reached five international finals out of six since 2021, winning Euro 2024 and the Nations League while finishing twice as runner-up in the latter.
Their current run evokes memories of the ‘tiki taka’ generation that was crowned world champions and twice won the European Championship between 2008 and 2012.
Former Spain international Fernando Morientes believes that their renewed success is testament to the country’s development of not just its on-field talent.
The former Real Madrid and Liverpool striker, now 50, scored 27 goals in 47 appearances during a nine-year spell in which he also featured at two World Cups.
“I think it comes down to the work done in the lower categories. Not just at the federation, though. I’d also bring in the work done in the academies of LaLiga clubs,” said Morientes.
“There’s also a real emphasis on developing coaches, and I think the coaches themselves are very important in this process with young players. It’s not just about having talent, you need good coaches, good coaching staff, to unlock the talent that exists in every young Spanish player.
“Obviously France, Portugal and Brazil also have a lot of young talent. But I don’t know, in Spain we’ve had this instilled since we were very young.
“I think the work being done in the lower categories of the Spanish federation, I really value it, and in LaLiga too, because I know how the academies work there. I think it’s delivering performances that weren’t worked on the same way in our generation.”
Morientes would also relish a rematch of the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England to gauge the strength of the Premier League and LaLiga’s top prospects.
He added: “Obviously I would like for Spain to win and to have a Spain and England final. I wouldn’t mind a Spanish-Argentina final either. But to measure the strengths between the Premier League and LaLiga would be cool.
“There’s always a bit of a competition between the two leagues, as two of the best in the world. So to measure LaLiga against the Premier League in the final would be great.”
Fernando Morientes was speaking on behalf of Reviant.
