Spanish Football and Tiqui-Taca

Friday, June 10th, 2011 at 7:40 am

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Some will point to Johan Cruyff’s successful stint as coach / manager of Barcelona as the beginnings of the style of play that has launched Spain to the stratosphere of the soccer world. The ball possession, quick pass, one-touch style of play that wears down defenders and that, at the right moment, punches a hole through a defense and unleashes a strike past the opponent’s goalie.

Others will cite the 2007 Spanish national team led by Luis Aragonés in the very same Atletion Stadium in Aarhus, Denmark, where the Spain Under 21 team will begin their battle for the European Cup this coming Sunday against a strong England team.

Was it there that the tiqui-taca phenomenon began? Or did Cruyff bring it with him from those great Netherlands teams that played such wonderful football? The truth lies somewhere in between.

On the La Liga level, no team has ever played this style of soccer better. When you look at the Barcelona starting roster, you will see that it is one of the most “Spanish” teams in Spain’s La Liga. And many of those same players, Xavi and Iniesta in particular, are not only the masters of tiqui-taca, they are the heart of La Roja’s midfield and major contributors to Spain’s wonderful triumphs over the past few years.

It was in Aarhus, Denmark on October 13, 2007 where La Roja implemented the possession play Aragonés had been preaching. It couldn’t have come at a better time as Spain defeated Denmark in a critical qualifying match 3-1, and secured their place in the 2008 European Cup, which they went on to win on that famous goal by Fernando Torres against Germany in the final.

The rest is history, as they say. Now it’s up to the younger generation to continue to play what some are calling “Spanish football.”

Promising eighteen-year old midfielder Iker Muniain (some refer to him as the “Spanish Messi,” a burden no youngster should have to carry) recognizes the need to play the way Spain has over the past several years. Possession, quick one-touch passes, constant movement. In other words, Spanish Football.