Spain's brilliance isn't just about Rodri or Lamine Yamal – it's all about the collective culture developed over many years, according to Emma Hayes. In an analysis for the Guardian, Hayes argues that Spain's semi-final dominance over France was not built on individual brilliance but on a shared understanding of space, timing and core principles. That is why they are the most exceptional team in the world and why she thinks they will win the World Cup on Sunday.
Collective Over Individual
Hayes emphasizes that football is about the collective. "It is not about Rodri, Lamine Yamal or Pedri. It's about the whole midfield, the collective." Spain finds positional and numerical superiority in whichever way they can, because doing so has been deeply ingrained from very early ages. They are the masters of time and space on a football pitch. Against France, they were rewarded for that culture by generating many moments of four-versus-two numerical superiority in key spaces.
In the buildup to the final, readers may see articles lauding Rodri as the best in the world at what he does – and yes, he's technically, tactically and psychologically superior. But Hayes insists his world-class abilities are not the reason for Spain's dominance. She recalls the Euro 2024 final, where at half-time Rodri had to go off. Martín Zubimendi came on instead, and the Spain midfield maintained control because their clear methodology has been built over time, not by one individual, nor by changing from manager to manager. They follow this system from age eight to 23 until they become the kings.
Systematic Development
In Spain, each and every player – male and female – is brought through a system with a set of beliefs underpinned with a clear methodology. The development of all playing principles within that framework positions them to perform at the highest level. It starts with the basic premise of a 4-3-3 structure in possession; that's their starting point in all age groups and they do not deviate from that. Yet they are also flexible in their positioning. In 2024, they played with a No 9, Álvaro Morata, and this summer they are playing with a false 9, Mikel Oyarzabal, who excels between the lines. Both scenarios have worked.
In this World Cup, with Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Dani Olmo and Oyarzabal combining, it's less about fixed positions and more about Spain's intrinsic ability to arrive in space at the right time. They rotate, exchange positions and move into areas to create advantages constantly. They also read each other to create situations where they have one more player in a specific area of the pitch. If they can't create that extra number, they ask: "How can we create a positional advantage with rotation?"
Cultural Roots
This culture goes back to Johan Cruyff's early Barcelona days. Spanish national teams do it better than any nation in both men's and women's football. It is why they have won a record nine Under-17 Euros titles, reached the past three Under-19 European finals, and won a joint-record five Under-21 Euros. In the women's game, they have a record eight Under-19 women's Euros trophies, seven since 2017, including five in a row. In Spain, it is mandatory by law for athletes to accept a national call-up at all age groups. In many countries, that is not the case. But youth national team exposure is essential to developing players' understanding of their roles under pressure in major tournaments.
Argentina's Collective
Argentina are also a true collective, but in a very different way. Hayes quotes sports psychologist Daniel Abrahams, who wrote that Argentina "sing their national anthem with gusto" and are "as aggressive in the press and in duels as you're going to see. Slightly bending the rules. Being nasty [and getting] in their opponents' faces, competing with so much passion and adoration for each other and with so much want and will and determination that there's no room for anxieties."
Hayes warns not to underestimate how difficult it is to accomplish that collective mindset. The intensity of commitment, the sign-up to the brotherhood, the adrenaline required, and their connections between each other and their fans is like nothing else in sport. Their manager talks about how they respond to adversity. Argentina is a nation that does well in adversity. They are the warriors of international football. For that reason, they're never out of any game, even if they don't dominate the ball, and they will fight to the last moment of the final.
Spain's Evolution
Spain masterfully shift the ball to one side of the pitch to move midfielders across, then bring it back to exploit the zones they wanted to access initially. Going man-for-man against Spain might not work because they are press resistant and know how to break pressure. They have evolved and are unafraid to go long and be direct, putting balls into spaces. They have mixed their game up. Hayes states they are the best team in the world. Before a ball was kicked in this tournament, she wrote in the Guardian that they were her favourites for the title and she stands by that.
Lessons for England
For England, watching Sunday's final will be painful. Hayes questions why England cannot cross the line, suggesting it relates to social and cultural makeup. She believes it is about the mental part of the game. At the highest level, players must train the muscles in their brain as much as the rest of their body to ensure emotion doesn't plague performance under pressure. She asks why Argentina are so successful at delivering when it matters and England are not. This is not about tactics or substitutions; those discussions after a semi-final defeat are shortsighted and emotional. Long term, the question is what in the psyche has not been addressed as a nation to overcome this, and how everyone – players, coaches, fans, media, clubs – can contribute.
Argentina never lacked belief against England. They stuck together like an unbreakable bond, without seeking to blame or find fault. In contrast, English natural behaviour is to find fault, dig out an individual or heap praise on one individual. Hayes argues that everyone must buy into the idea that when winning, it's the collective, and when losing, it's the collective. That is why Argentina and Spain are in the final. They are two nations with unbelievable clarity about their identity and the two most collective teams in the tournament.
