The last time we saw Spain in an international tournament, they beat Australia 3-0 to finish third in Group B of the 2014 World Cup. Of course, the real story was in the previous games. The 5-1 opening match loss to Netherlands was the biggest margin of loss by a defending World Cup champion and Spain’s biggest loss at a World Cup in over 60 years. And it was not only the scoreline, but the manner in which they lost - Spain, for the first time in years, not only looked beatable but out of ideas seemingly overnight. Spain had its usual characteristics with 64% possession, which made Netherland’s five unanswered goals even more emphatic. That and the subsequent loss to Chile signaled the end of tiki taka and all that it symbolized. In the two year since, Spain even briefly fell out of the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings.

It’s a signal of how quickly four years in sports can pass, but it is important to remind ourselves that Spain are still the defending champions of the Europe. If winning the 2010 World Cup was the coronation of the tiki taka, then winning the European Championships in 2012 was the victory lap. They outscored opponents 12-1 in six matches, and didn’t concede a goal in the knockout rounds (they haven’t conceded a goal in the knockout rounds since 2006). There was debate as to whether Spain were the greatest international side of all time after beating Italy 4-0 in the finals and winning three straight major tournaments. Their dominance was so complete that even Arsene Wenger accused them of being boring. All of this made their World Cup performance just two years later even more shocking.   

Yet in this current, post tiki-taka era defined by pressing and transitions, Spain’s domestic teams have never been stronger. Real Madrid and Atleti represented an all La Liga Champions League final this season. Barcelona or Real Madrid won three of the last four Champions League titles. Sevilla won three straight Europa League titles, and three of the four semifinal teams in the competition this season came from Spain. The days of 600 passes per match may be gone, but Spanish sides can put together a pragmatic counter attacking side as well as any in Europe.   

14 is the telling statistic here: that’s the number of different clubs that players from the Spanish side represent this time around from leagues ranging from Italy, England and Portugal. This is in contrast to the starting lineup for Spain in their finals match against Italy which consisted of players from three sides: six from Barcelona, four from Real Madrid, and David Silva. Their World Cup loss to Netherlands still featured five players from Barcelona and three from Real Madrid.

This 2016 team is carefully stitched together by comparison. With Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Thiago and Silva in midfield, the flowing passing movements and possession advantage will still be familiar traits. In playing to this strength, they figure to line up with five in midfield, although without Xavi and Xabi Alonso in the middle, the ball will move much quicker. Nolito, Pedro Aritz Aduriz and Alvaro Morata in front of them strive in direct transition, further signaling a change to a direct style. The side’s transition in style can afford such flexibility. But there are still holes in the side; at age 35, Aduriz’s inclusion is especially telling of Spain’s lack of striking options. Then again, they did win it in 2012 without one.     

And, of course, there is the ever present, consistent face of Spain in manager Vicente Del Bosque. He could afford to play an experimental, strikerless lineup last time around, with the Barcelona midfield backbone as the framework. Xavi’s retirement is the biggest structural change from four years ago. There is no direct replacement for a player who hit 95 passes with 93% completion in their 4-0 finals win (but what nation does?). If the 2012 side was a reflection of Barcelona’s dominant passing machine, then perhaps the identity this time will be based on the direct transitions that served their domestic teams (even Barcelona) so well in European competitions. 

Spain topped their group at the qualification stage, and should repeat that effort in Group D against Croatia, Czech Republic, and Turkey. While traditional powers are expected to compete for the title, it’s not only Spain undergoing a transition. Germany will be without international stalwarts Miroslav Klose and Philipp Lahm. France and England are trending up with young, athletic midfields. There is clearly a question mark at the striker position for Spain. But their quality in midfield may be enough considering the lack of clear favorite heading into the tournament. 

There is the surface level importance of winning the European Championship for any side. But for Spain, their play and results from this tournament will speak to searching for a larger identity heading into the 2018 World Cup and beyond. As Diego Simeone said this week after losing in the Champions League final, every cycle has its end. There won’t be a branded style of play this time around, but there is also strength in flexibility. Spain were almost perfect on their 2012 Euro title run, culminating in a 4-0 win in the finals that had many wondering if we would ever see a team as dominant as that side. This time around, discovering an identity will more than do.