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Spain’s latest World Cup embarrassment should mark the end of Tiki Taka

By Tushar Bahl

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 01: Spain players look dejected during penalty shoot out following the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 1, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 01: Spain players look dejected during penalty shoot out following the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 1, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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Russia gave us arguably the biggest shock of the World Cup by taking down pre tournament favorites Spain in the round of 16.

Buoyed by their rapturous home support, the Russians pulled off a miraculous victory and embarrassed Spain. The defeat not only marked the end of La Roja’s golden generation, but also their classic tactic that had helped them win the World Cup just eight years ago.

The “tiki taka” style has been used by Spain for a large part of this century. To it’s credit, the style has brought them massive success too.

The Spaniards have won the FIFA World Cup and two European Championships by using this pass and move style.

But it’s worth noting that Spain’s last success came six years ago, and since then they have suffered from some great humiliations on the world’s biggest stages.

Spain should have been done with tiki taka when Louis van Gaal and the Netherlands tore them apart with their devastating counter attacking football in the World Cup 2014 opener.

But they carried the style through to the European Championships, where they were once again taught a lesson, this time by Italy, a team that couldn’t even qualify for the World Cup finals this time around.

And on Sunday, Spain’s famous style not only bored us to death, but it couldn’t even help them get past Russia, a team ranked 70 in the world. Spain made over a THOUSAND passes, compared to Russia’s 300 and they bled themselves to death with their conservative approach.

Russia were happy to let Spain have the ball because they knew that Spain couldn’t hurt them with their sideways passing.

There was no directness in Spain’s game until they realized that Russia could actually win this, and by then it was too late. We went to penalties, and Russia went through.

Spain’s build up play was slow and ineffective. They seemed to be happy just to keep possession, pass sideways and wait till the Russians surrendered.

But their tactic was very easily rendered useless by their less illustrious opponents, just like Morocco and Iran did in the group stages. And now La Roja head home with plenty of questions surrounding the national team.

Many of Spain’s biggest stars from their golden generation will not be around for World Cup 2022. And for Spain’s sake, let’s hope that by then the mind numbing tiki taka is gone too.

Next: Arsenal want to beat Tottenham to Dembele replacement

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