Spain must learn to rise

A smile is part of Luis de la Fuente's character. The Spanish coach never lost it even after losing to Portugal on penalties, surrendering the Nations League throne, the first title he hasn't won since being named the new captain of the Red Ship at the end of 2022, following the elimination from the World Cup in Qatar and the immediate dismissal of Luis Enrique . De la Fuente appeared in the press room at the Allianz Arena seemingly satisfied, with more smiles than grimaces, and accepted the defeat without too much self-criticism, very self-assured. Afterwards, he made his way to the mixed zone, where the coach was waiting for him outside, and said goodbye to the smiling crowd.

The Spanish team is aware that losing to Portugal "was a scare and a wake-up call."

Although statistically, falling to Portugal on penalties won't count as a defeat—Spain's unbeaten run has stretched back to that fateful night in Glasgow in March 2023—there's no need to kid ourselves. After winning the last Nations Cup and the European Championship back-to-back, the new generation of footballers inhabiting La Roja, led by Lamine Yamal, experienced their first international disappointment in Munich, and it's time to digest it and learn from it, as they have so many times before. Spain's destiny at next year's World Cup may depend on that virtue, where this team will appear, despite everything, as one of the big favorites for the title, seeking that second star they so yearn for.

De la Fuente did not lose his smile despite the result but he must not avoid self-criticism.

The positive atmosphere in the national team's locker room should help in that regard. Already at the Allianz Arena, after sportingly witnessing Portugal's coronation, with Cristiano Ronaldo lifting the championship trophy, the Spanish players seemed to be taking steps in the right direction. "I don't know if it's good to make these mistakes"—referring to the defeat—"but it's clear that ahead of the World Cup, it's a scare, a wake-up call that you can't always win," admitted Zubimendi, the undisputed Spanish mastermind in Rodri's absence, and also the top scorer in the final. "I hope what happened serves as a lesson, like what happened in 2021," added Mikel Oyarzábal, the best Spanish player in this final four, recalling the elimination on penalties in the semifinals of that European Championship. A setback with similarities to this one, since against Italy at Wembley, the only penalty shootout was a penalty shootout, and with a Morata error in the shootout, a déjà vu of what happened in Munich.

The youth and hunger of the new generation, pushing so hard from the bottom up, must also play in the interests of De la Fuente's team, looking ahead to next year's World Cup, which will be played between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Lamine Yamal, who after a great semifinal barely shone in the final, well covered by Nuno Mendes—what a display he had—will arrive at the big event as an adult, albeit still barely 18 years old, if that's a contradiction. With another year of career under his belt, it's impossible to predict what the Rocafonda star will be capable of, but it's impossible not to see him as the undisputed leader of the Spanish national team. But first, like all his teammates, he must learn to pick himself up.