The Passing of a Generation

The Passing of a Generation

By Zack Goldman

Call it what you’d like: The end of an era, the collapse of a dynasty, or just, plainly, expected.

Whatever you term Spain’s past week, it was not what they had in mind when arriving in Brazil to defend the World Cup that they won with such heart and tenacity in South Africa four years ago.

It had all started so well.

Within a half-hour in their opening match against the Netherlands, Spain were already in the driver’s seat, when Xabi Alonso cooly converted a penalty and put his team up 1-0.

That, however, is where the fun stopped. Robin van Persie sprouted wings, Arjen Robben used his left foot like we all know he can, and the Dutch put up five unanswered goals on La Furia Roja to leave their faces, indeed, a furia roja.

That was one game, though. Surely, the Spanish couldn’t lose two in a row.

Surely, with the fate of their World Cup – and dynasty – on the line, they couldn’t falter against Chile in the very stadium that questioned their dominance after a 3-0 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup Final last summer.

Surely, with that set of incentives, they had to deliver. …Right?

Wrong. The team that had grown to embody ingenuity was suddenly out of ideas.

The team that had pressed so furiously the past six years was suddenly lackadaisical, shuffling on stale legs. The team whose short, rhythmic passing and darting runs that had carved poems into grass through a World Cup and two European Championships suddenly resorted to the ugly, the banal, and the speculative.

And, Chile? They were brilliant. Playing with coercion and compulsion in defense, energy and enterprise in attack, and pure selflessness for 90 minutes – well, they looked downright Spanish.

Chile knocked the holders out Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory, meaning Spain won’t be hoisting another World Cup in Brazil.

But, strangely, their journey continues.

Bizarre as it may seem, Spain will be back in training this week, preparing for a game against Australia next Monday – one that will mean a lot more to the Socceroos than it will to their distinguished opponents.

It should, however, mean something to us all – because we will effectively be saying goodbye to a Spanish team that gave us a great deal.

From the rise of possession football, to the ability to bounce back from a tournament-opening loss to win the World Cup, to their three incredible victory parades, this generation of Spanish footballers – from Xavi to Iniesta to even Pepe Reina – taught us a lot about not only how to win, but how to be winners.

It was more than talent that made this group special – it was hard work and humility and team spirit. The kind of spirit that turned fisticuffs into fist-bumps and put aside spats in El Clásico to achieve international success. The kind of spirit that brought Dani Jarque – taken far too soon – to every goal celebration and trophy ceremony. The kind of spirit that, yes, at moments, brought the many sides of Spain together.

Under the weight of mammoth expectation, from without and within, Spain may have crumbled at this World Cup – but they are already forever etched into our minds as champions. 

This article was written by AFR Contributing Editor, Zack Goldman.