A Suffocating Defense Has Been The Key To Spain's World Cup Success

Playing defense is not easy. You can play a perfect game for 90 minutes plus stoppage time. You can lose your man for a split second and boom, he scores the winning goal.

When you have an entire team playing defense, from front to back, that can be a different story.

Case in point:

Spain has ridden one of the great defensive World Cup performances of all time into the final against defending champion Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET (FOX, Telemundo).

In fact, Spain’s defense, a key factor in the national team’s 37-match unbeaten streak, could very well be the best tonic to thwart Lionel Messi and Argentina’s dramatic late-match heroics during the knockout round.

A pressing style defense from front to back

With Unai Simon in goal, the Spaniards have surrendered only one goal in the seven matches, while shutting out six opponents. Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere holds that distinction as the lone goal-scorer against the European champions, who recorded a 2-1 victory in that quarterfinal.

Their success goes well beyond pure numbers.

They play, from the forwards to the backline, a pressing, tight-marking defense. That strategy has suffocated teams trying to get the ball over midfield, let alone into a good position to shoot.

It was never more apparent in their 2-0 semifinal victory over France on Tuesday. Spain limited the French’s vaunted attack and passes to striker Kylian Mbappe (eight goals), who could get only two shots off. The team defense was so outstanding that it forced France’s outstanding playmaker, Michael Olise, from the game as he had few answers on how to solve his foes.

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“We started almost four years ago with an idea, and we’ve been faithful to that idea and it’s brought us here,” Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said.

“Today we faced one of the best national teams in the world, but in front of them they had the best team in the world. That is different. These players deserve everything – day after day they’ve showed their commitment, their solidarity, their generosity, their talent.”

Didier Deschamps, who guided France in his final game as coach, admitted that Spain “defended extremely well and we never got into the game. We couldn’t play as we usually do.

“We had big ambitions but have to admit that Spain were better; they did a really good job. We tried everything but Spain showed that they are at a different level. We tried, we failed, it just wasn’t enough.”

Spain’s defense goes well beyond its goalkeeper. The team deploys a pressing style. Their tight marking, quickness, and excellent positioning has closed off passing lanes, while making it difficult for opponents to get past the center line.

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A pairing of a veteran and a youngster at center back

If they do, the dynamic center back duo of Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi have played as close to a perfect World Cup as defenders can, clearing plenty of balls out of harm’s way.

In fact, de la Fuente decided to pair together a teenager and a veteran in the middle of the defense.

Laporte, 32, who once anchored Manchester City to five Premier League titles in England, doesn’t perform for one of La Liga’s elite sides such as Real Madrid or Barcelona. He competes for Athletic Bilbao, although his bargaining position could be on the ascent after the World Cup, and especially if Spain claims the title.

It is quite ironic that Laporte helped shut down the French because he was born in France. However, he was never selected for its national team. Since he is of Basque descent, he was eligible to play for Spain. He made his debut for La Roja in 2021, and has made 52 international appearances.

Cubarsi, 19, already has played 84 times for Barcelona and is a star on the rise, and another 19 for La Roja. He ability to be at the right place at the right time is amazing for a teenager.

Against France, he made a key tackle on Mbappe and had countless clearances.

“It is difficult in the youth department for people to talk about you,” former Barcelona midfielder Oscar Garcia was quoted by Sky Sports. “Normally, they will talk about a Lamine Yamal, a Lionel Messi, these kind of players. Not a center back. But for me, Cubarsi is fantastic.

“I am sure he will be one of the top five center backs in history.”

Some high praise for a teenager.

Curbasi’s next task could be trying to stop Messi, who confounded foes with his goal-scoring in the group stage. In the knockout round, Messi has become a supreme playmaker, setting up his teammates for key goals in several 11th-hour wins.

Dreaming of playing against Messi in the final

Earlier in the tournament, Cubarsi said that he dreamt of playing against Messi and Argentina in the final.

“If we could have a final against Messi, it would be spectacular, because it would mean we’d be in the final and closer to winning it,” Cubarsi said.

. “If it could be against Messi, who has always been one of my idols, it would be magnificent.

“I never imagined facing Messi, but I would have to be one hundred percent attentive, because you never know where it’s going to come from.”

Whether it will be a dream or a nightmare, Curbasi and his teammates will discover that soon enough on Sunday.

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This article was originally published on Forbes.com

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