Spain's road to World Cup glory has taken a dramatic U-turn. Gone are the days of 'tiki-taka' and attacking flair; in its place, a rock-solid defence that's leaving opponents stunned and fans on the edge of their seats. Having outmuscled Portugal 1-0 in the last 16, Spain is now just three wins away from lifting the trophy – but it's not the free-flowing football that secured their first title in 2010 that's got everyone talking; it's the impenetrable wall at the back.
This team is a defensive powerhouse. They're the only side left in the tournament yet to concede a goal, making history with six consecutive clean sheets – surpassing Italy (1990) and Switzerland (2006-10) records in the process. Their defensive record stretches an astonishing 10 hours and nine minutes, dating back to that goalless draw against Costa Rica in 2022.
Manager Luis de la Fuente knows the secret to their success: "There's solidarity, effort, sacrifice, and everybody runs for one another." While they boast a star-studded attack featuring Mikel Oyarzabal, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, and Ballon d'Or winner Rodri in midfield, it's the collective defensive effort that's laying the foundation for their challenge. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Sport: "This team knows how to compete – they're committed, think the same way."
At the heart of this defensive fortress is goalkeeper Unai Simon, who's taken his World Cup record for minutes without conceding to an astonishing 609, surpassing Walter Zenga (517) and Iker Casillas (476). Balague believes it's not just individual heroics that have contributed: "Spain defended in numbers and collectively – they tracked back a lot, individually sorted out problems. So we haven't needed a miracle save from Simon."
The central defensive pairing of Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi, backed up by Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella, has been instrumental. This back-four has started three of Spain's five matches, with Marcos Llorente occasionally stepping in for Porro. Rodri's resurgence as the "lighthouse" of the team, marshalling the midfield and protecting the defence, further solidifies this defensive unit – allowing them to play their intricate passing game while maintaining a rock-solid base.
This new-look Spain is a far cry from the attacking flair of 2010. Under De La Fuente's tactical nous, they've found a winning formula that's leaving fans believing "there's so much more to come" from this Spanish side.