How Spain became European champion
Following Spain's 2-1 victory against England in the final of the Euro 2024 football championship, Europe's press analyses the factors that made this success possible. Sport aspects are not the only focus here.
The regions held together
For the Süddeutsche Zeitung the winning team also symbolises modern Spain:
“This team which works together with the naturalness of a biological organism embodied what Spain's politicians often invoke without living up to it themselves: convivencia, successful coexistence. In passing, they showed that the country would not be the way it is without migration. But there was also a domestic political subtext: Williams plays for Bilbao in the Basque Country, Yamal for Barcelona in Catalonia, Carvajal for Real Madrid. Here, what so often leads to political discord held the team together: the regions with separatist centrifugal forces and the Castilian heartland. On Sunday, it was all España.”
An exemplary talent pool
Spain's success in elite sport is no accident, observes The Times:
“The Iberian kingdom may suffer from dysfunctional politics and high unemployment but it knows how to grow footballers in its academies: spotting them early, prizing intelligence highly, and progressing them from youth to adult football while ensuring that their learning goes with them. ... The belief that players are as much made as born applies to other sports. Carlos Alcaraz's triumph in the men's singles at Wimbledon earlier in the day was testament to a system that had him serving tennis balls at the age of four.”
Integration triumphs against racism
El País is delighted:
“This was without doubt Spain's European Championship: the team set a global benchmark with its modern, bold and exciting football. ... Lamine Yamal, 17, and Nico Williams, 22, energised the game and captivated a younger audience. They both also highlighted the contradictions of the far-right parties in the debate over immigration and growing racism in Europe. ... Integration triumphed over sectarianism, also in the style of play, far removed from the fury of the past as well as recent disputes over style and ego-driven behaviour. Instead, the idiosyncrasies of the footballers and teamwork were respected. ... A football based on solidarity was favoured.”