Former coach Arrigo Sacchi feels Serie A clubs could learn three important ideas from Spain’s victorious campaign at Euro 2024, making it clear that ‘you win if you play well’.
Luis de la Fuente’s side finished off their perfect campaign at the European Championship in Germany with a confident 2-1 win over England in the final on Sunday evening, securing La Roja’s fourth major continental trophy.
Italy found themselves in the same group as Spain, where they suffered a painful 1-0 defeat after a Riccardo Calafiori own goal. The gulf in quality between the two sides proved a sign of things to come in the next round for the Azzurri, who failed to show much of note against Switzerland.
From Euro 2024 to Serie A
Serie A clubs are now hard at work preparing for the upcoming 2024-25 season and many have already been active in the summer transfer window.
Writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi highlighted three things Serie A clubs could learn from Spain’s victory at Euro 2024.
“I liked some things about Spain that I’ll underline and would like to see again in Serie A. First: the doubling up of marking during pressing. The timing of the aggression was always correct and in this way the departments always remained compact.
“Second: the players always received the ball on the move, giving the English no points of reference. Third: excellent clearances both in the central and wide areas. This is how ball possession is created, by creating numerical superiority in the area where the action is taking place.
“I hope that certain principles are also understood by our teams, this is the lesson we must learn and work towards. There are no shortcuts, you win if you play well.
“And to play well you have to do as these Spanish boys did, demonstrating courage, technical and tactical qualities, a spirit of sacrifice, a desire to run and have fun.
“Spain’s play is enthralling, in the sense that they carry all the fans with them, the ball advances into the opponent’s half and the fans accompany it.”
Asidr from awful performance under Spalletti, let’s face it that Azzurri has been lacking with players in the quality of Maldini, Nesta, Pirlo, Del Piero & Pippo Inzaghi. Foreign ownerships also tend to turn clubs more into international players.