There were many elements to Spain’s World Cup triumph, at the MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, on Sunday.

So widely admired for their possession-based fare La Roja’s industry and endeavour often goes under the radar, but unquestionably it is their relentless pressing that propels them to major tournament successes as much as neat passing patterns.

This summer only two nations forced more high turnovers, while 12% of their possessions began in the attacking third, a tournament high.

They don’t allow teams to breathe, let alone ponder their best options, and to collectively complete 115 pressing sequences across the competition is impressive work in arduously hot conditions.

A superbly constructed midfield also lies at the heart of Spain’s domination of game-narratives, a space occupied by 2024’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, along with Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo, each of whom have been nominated for the prestigious honour in recent years.

Acting as metronome and conductor, Rodri won 20 tackles across the tournament, an unsurpassed number, while additionally completing 655 passes, an all-time record in any World Cup.  

The Manchester City star subsequently won the player of the tournament award, two years after doing likewise at the Euros.

Rodri’s World Cup in numbers (per ESPN)

Chances created: 9

Progressive passes: 81

Carries: 556

Ball recoveries: 34

Ground duels won: 30

Fluidity and options

In Ruiz and Olmo, the 30-year-old was aided and abetted by two world-class technicians blessed with high doses of footballing IQ but if we are focusing on the midfield then the output of Mikel Oyarzabal must also come under consideration.

The Real Sociedad forward scored five goals in the Americas, the joint-highest tally ever achieved by a Spanish player in the tournament, but it was his constant dropping deep that caused opponents so many headaches, his clever movement affording channels for Alex Baena and last year’s Ballon d’Or runner-up Lamine Yamal to dart into.

What Oyarzabal’s fluid variation of a false nine mandate also provided of course was an extra man in central areas, creating an overload that not only provided Rodri with another passing option, but offered further protection for Spain’s back-line.

Perfectly balanced, in both age and attribute, Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi won just praise for their defensive acumen this summer but it must be stated too that they benefited from a solid structure ahead of them.

La Roja faced just 10 shots on target all tournament, conceding only one goal.

A domination of data

All of which, when aligned and combined, explain in part Spain’s triumphant adventure across the Atlantic, but naturally we are, to this juncture, overlooking the main ingredient; their modus operandi.

La Roja control games like no other team can on the international stage. They take possession via possession and immediately make the opposition a secondary character in the story they are narrating.

Luis de la Fuente’s side completed 4945 passes on route to attaining a second World Cup, with a 90% pass accuracy that was the joint-highest in the competition

All told, they enjoyed 63.7% possession, the second highest percentage in the tournament to Turkey, who played five games fewer.

It was, by every metric, a summer-long masterclass in imposing order and controlling tempo.

Core principles and calm

Genetically ingrained in each member of the squad, this mastery of space and ball-rotation ensured they nullified a ferociously brilliant French forward-line in the semi-final, starving Kylian Mbappe and company of opportunities.

In their preceding six games, Les Bleus averaged 21.5 attempts on goal per 90. In Texas, they conjured up merely ten, with no big chances created.

This suffocation had a significant perk too, because when France gained possession they became fearful of losing it and endure another five minutes of chase-ball. Their movement and artistry became conservative as a consequence and easier to manage.

Five days later came Argentina and a very different challenge, La Albiceleste favouring chaos and incendiary combat.

To counter this, Spain doubled-down on core principles they have held dear since they were exported from the Netherlands in the Seventies, courtesy of Rinus Michels and three-time Ballon d’or winner Johan Cruyff.

Uninterested in providing a thrilling spectacle for a viewing audience of 1.8 billion, La Roja passed and passed, refusing to allow 25 fouls to disrupt their rhythm.

Argentina ultimately had a scant eight touches inside Spain’s box and just 35% possession throughout. The majority of their afternoon was spent tracking and closing down, looking on as Spain mercilessly shifted the ball left to right, right to left.

It all goes back to the famous quote attributed to Xavi Hernández, a multiple Ballon d’Or nominee and a player who certainly knew to his bones the immeasurable value in controlling a match via possession.

“The one who has the ball is the master of the game"

La Roja did this eight times over in the Americas and subsequently they are the masters of the world.