Sky’s the limit for stellar Spain

Even after Spain's perfect Euro 2012 final performance in Kiev, it is very difficult to tell whether they really are the greatest-ever international team, though they do not look like stopping ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

Before and during Euro 2012, many had shared the opinion that time and fatigue were catching up with Vicente del Bosque's squad.
If the performance in the 4-0 thrashing of Italy ended that argument, it also made clear the strength of Spain's desire. A number of other cliches surrounding this oft-misunderstood team were also removed.
The final rubbished the notion that Spain's miserly defence was solely built on ball retention. La Furia Roja had a light possession advantage overall (52% to 48%) but Italy had 56% possession in the second period.

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“What is perhaps most ominous for future opponents is what appears to be an insatiable hunger to improve. On Tuesday, sports daily Marca published a list of the next seven challenges for Spain”

Andy Brassell

It was what Spain did with the ball that counted: they were incisive and decisive. Their second goal, by Jordi Alba, was a case in point. Seven seconds passed between Barcelona's newest signing starting the move in his own half and the ball hitting the net.

It showed another side of Spain's game that many had overlooked. Their impeccable technique and movement is taken for granted, but the sheer attacking power on display showed the extraordinary levels of fitness within the side.
What is perhaps most ominous for future opponents is what appears to be an insatiable hunger to improve. On Tuesday, Spanish sports daily Marca published a list of the next seven challenges for Spain.
The Confederations Cup and a fourth European Championship were on it, though writer Tomas Campos also identified "winning an official match against Argentina and Uruguay". The feeling at home is that Spain can do everything.
The London Olympics are certainly on the menu and the squad announced by coach Luis Milla on Tuesday pitched a few signposts to the future.
Milla's group includes the next generation eulogised by captain Iker Casillas in the immediate aftermath of the final. Among them are 13 of the squad that won last summer's European Under-21 Championship in Denmark.
Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera and Thiago Alcantara of Barcelona, who scored in the win over talented Switzerland in the final, are both in.
Nobody can guarantee that today's promising youngsters will be tomorrow's world-beaters. Yet it is clear that the representative levels provide a platform to the senior squad.