In Spain, now anything's possible

Barcelona has retooled in efforts to restore the downtrodden club back to winning ways. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Major comings and goings at Spain's Champions League quartet Real Madrid In: Rubén de la Red (Getafe), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Javi García (Osasuna). Out: Júlio Baptista (Roma), Robinho (Manchester City), Roberto Soldado (Getafe). Villarreal In: Jozy Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Edmílson (Barcelona), Ariel Ibagaza (Mallorca), Joseba Llorente (Valladolid), Sebastián Eguren (Hammarby). Out: Martín Cáceres (Barcelona). FC Barcelona In: Dani Alves, Seydou Keita (both Sevilla), Cáceres (Villarreal), Gerard Piqué (Manchester United), Alexander Hleb (Arsenal). Out: Deco (Chelsea), Edmílson (Villarreal), Giovani dos Santos (Tottenham), Oleguer Presas (Ajax), Ronaldinho, Gianluca Zambrotta (both AC Milan), Lilian Thuram (retired). Atlético Madrid In: Grégory Coupet (Lyon), John Heitinga (Ajax), Paulo Assunção (Porto), Florent Sinama-Pongolle (Recreativo), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina), Éver Banega (Valencia). Out: Roberto Jiménez (Recreativo), Mista (Deportivo La Coruña).

By Sid Lowe, Special to SI.com, World Soccer

The warm glow of the 2008 European Championship continued to spread across Spain well into the summer. Even the transfer stories were set aside, for a while at least, in favor of the accolades. And when the screaming headlines and astronomical figures began once again to be splashed across the covers of the country's newspapers, there was something different about it.

Rarely has a new league campaign been awaited with such good feeling: The normal preseason optimism, that all-too-fleeting enthusiasm, seemed somehow enhanced by the exploits of La Selección at Euro 2008. Except, of course, in Catalonia, where Barcelona was busy tearing itself apart -- yet again.

Even those not convinced about their club's prospects, those who in their hearts knew that bitter reality would soon intervene, could be forgiven for shrugging their shoulders and accepting their fate. Who cares, anyway?

When Fernando Torres clipped the ball into the German net in the final two months ago, something shifted in Spain. The country's success was, as one columnist put it, "beautiful, just and necessary." In a flash, 44 years of jinxes, bad luck and underachievement were spirited away. But it was not just about changing Spain's history; it was about changing the future, too.

From being the team that everyone said would never do anything, Spain suddenly became favorites for the World Cup. Suddenly, as former Real Madrid coach Jorge Valdano put it, this quixotic, fatalistic footballing country "realized that those other teams were windmills, not giants after all." Suddenly, Spain seemed to become the team set to dominate international soccer. As a million people flooded Madrid's streets for the homecoming, keeper Iker Casillas promised: "This is just the beginning."

Not just because Spain is a young, incredibly talented side -- Torres, Cesc Fàbregas, Sergio Ramos, Santi Cazorla, Andrés Iniesta and David Silva are all in their early 20s -- and had removed the burden of history from their shoulders, but also because of the way they did it. "It's not just about winning, what really matters is the style," commented Roberto Palomar in sports daily Marca. "The way you win does matter; this is not the same as Greece in 2004."

Former Real Madrid coach Ángel Cappa agreed. "What good did winning 2004 do Greece apart from giving them 10 minutes of glory?" he asked. "None. Spain, on the other hand, has found a pathway."

The point may have been exaggerated, but Spain's success became the vindication of a style, of technique and talent, of expansive soccer, as against the defensive, physical game of Greece. It gave Spain an identity and the strength to believe in it, replacing pessimism with pride.

"There are many paths to glory, but rarely has a team reached the summit so deservedly as Spain," said the El País newspaper. "Glory was for the team that played the best football. Spain didn't just win the title 44 years later; it did so with greatness, in a stunning way from start to finish, gaining everyone's admiration."

Few could argue. Spain was Euro 2008's highest-scoring side and also conceded fewest goals. Eight Spaniards made UEFA's 23-man squad of the tournament, central midfielder Xavi was named best of the lot and David Villa won the Golden Boot.

On average, Spain had more attacks, completed more passes, had more shots (off and on target), won the ball back more, put more balls into the opposition area, created more assists and had more minutes of possession than any other team. Frustrated opponents fouled them more than any other team. They won all six matches and never even went behind. Their superiority against Russia in the semifinal was almost insulting; Germany coach Joachim Löw admitted Spain's victory in the final was "well deserved."

Spanish soccer was the best in Europe after 44 years without a major trophy and after a difficult couple of domestic seasons in which even the most patriotic of observers were forced to admit the English Premier League had left Spain behind -- the fact there were three English teams in each of the last two Champions League semifinals hurt in Iberia.

With the national team having now reached the European summit, the Spanish insist it is time for La Liga to follow. That means rectifying mistakes, following La Selección's lead and, above all, huge investment. Hence Real Madrid's attempt to capture Cristiano Ronaldo has been the one story that has challenged the national team for column inches this summer.

But while the news has bounced back and forth between Madrid and Manchester, and while Barcelona has bought big and desperately sought to offload the two men who once made it great, other clubs have quietly built squads ready to challenge, survive or surprise. Villarreal and Atlético Madrid have led the way, and Valencia is scrambling for the stability to make a team that should be challengers into challengers once more.

The happiest of Spanish footballing summers still has a long way to go, but already fans can't wait for the new season to begin. After all, Austria proved that now anything's possible.

This article originally appeared in the August 2008 issue of World Soccer magazine. To subscribe, click here.