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Graham Hunter
Georgia’s coach, Willy Sagnol, echoed the sentiments of many managers across Europe, including those from Turkey, Bulgaria, France, Germany, and England, when he expressed a sense of resignation: “Spain don’t just play in a different league; they operate from an entirely different universe.”
The former French international, who has achieved significant success, including winning the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich and being a FIFA World Cup runner-up, had just witnessed Spain’s second-string team come close to scoring eight or nine goals against Georgia. Days later, they decimated Bulgaria by four goals, matching their historic unbeaten streak of 29 competitive matches.
This current squad has equalled the remarkable record set by the legendary Spain team featuring Iker Casillas, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Carles Puyol, Jordi Alba, Sergio Ramos, David Villa, and Fernando Torres.
Have we acknowledged that we are witnessing a new golden era, perhaps the most remarkable one yet?
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What’s striking about Luis de la Fuente’s Spain is their ability to thrive even when missing key players.
In their most recent World Cup qualifying matches, Spain could have fielded an impressive XI from the absentees alone:
Goalkeepers: Joan García, David de Gea
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, Pau Torres, Nacho, Alejandro Balde, Iñigo Martínez
Midfielders: Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Marc Casadó, Gavi, Fermín López, Dani Olmo, Isco
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Álvaro Morata, Ayoze Pérez, Joselu, Nico Williams
This talented roster could compete favorably against any team, yet they were all sidelined for various reasons during Spain’s recent matches.
Add Ferran Torres, who missed the game against Bulgaria due to a muscle strain, and that’s a total of 20 top-tier players.
Honestly, how many other nations could withstand losing that many elite players, some of the best in the world in their positions, and still perform exceptionally well? How many could dominate teams determined to defend against a supposedly weakened “big team”?
I believe the answer is: none.
No other national team can combine so many creative solutions amid a talent exodus and still appear, at times, unbeatable.
During a match on Spain’s southeastern coast, had it not been for Liverpool’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili delivering another stellar performance against the European champions, the final score could have easily been 8-0 or 9-0.
When I asked Sagnol, a former world-class defender and seasoned coach, why he believes Spain stands out as superior with seemingly endless depth, he recalled, “In the 1980s and 1990s, Spain were seen as good but not winners. What we’re witnessing now is the result of 20-25 years of strategic planning and hard work by the Spanish FA. Look at players like Pedri; he may not look formidable, but he possesses immense football intelligence. Everything he does elevates the team—he drives play forward, seeks options, and creates space.”
“Spain consistently produces players with this exceptional football intelligence, which enables them to perform seamlessly at the same level, even with missing stars. They continue to nurture these extraordinary talents.”
In the past four years, Spain has achieved remarkable records, including reaching the UEFA European Championship semifinals (2021), earning an Olympic silver medal (2021), finishing as UEFA Nations League runners-up (2021), advancing to the World Cup round of 16 (2022), winning the Nations League (2023), claiming the European Championship (2024), securing Olympic gold (2024), and reaching the Nations League finals (2025).
If this were a racehorse’s performance—placing third, second, second, ninth, first, first, first, and second—the potential stud value would soar, prompting bettors to wager heavily on its prospects for victory next summer.
To further support Sagnol’s assertion, De la Fuente has fielded at least 63 players during this period, many of whom were initially overlooked by critics but have become reliable fixtures in the national setup.
After Spain’s 4-0 victory over Bulgaria, Leeds United’s Ilia Gruev highlighted Spain’s prowess: “Facing Spain is extremely challenging because you rarely get a chance to engage in duels. Their rapid ball movement makes it hard to tackle or get close. Their players are incredibly intelligent, playing smartly and effectively—the best way to play football. You’re constantly defending and when you finally win the ball, you’re completely drained. You need possession just to recuperate.”
“Watching Spain is a pleasure; it seems effortless,” he added, “but executing what they do is profoundly difficult.”
As Sagnol noted, it is a systematic process. Spain’s FA consistently starts grooming the best young talents from ages 14 to 15, selecting 55 standout players and developing them systematically through tactical training, discipline, team unity, and responsibility.
This approach partly explains why, even with key players sidelined, others seamlessly step into roles and maintain high performance.
“We are a family,” said Arsenal’s Mikel Merino after scoring twice against Bulgaria, demonstrating team spirit by allowing Mikel Oyarzabal to take the last-minute penalty to score his 13th goal under De la Fuente’s management.
Is it a mere coincidence that he has flourished with Spain far more than at Real Sociedad, given that De la Fuente has been working with him since he was 19? I think not.
Sagnol aptly concluded on Spain’s domination: “Spain and Portugal are the two football models every nation should aspire to emulate.”
His comment, however, was tinged with regret and admiration after his team suffered a humbling defeat against Spain.