I got here I've said that I was happy with the attitude, the FIFA Coins mentality and the commitment of these players. This team is playing with a lot of confidence."Spain was the team to beat in soccer for almost a decade, having won three major titles in a row - back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2010.
No nation could challenge Spain's captivating ball-possession style, played to perfection by the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso.But its dominance eventually started to fade as some of its key players began to age.The team's first disappointment came at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when it was eliminated in the group stage after embarrassing performances.Then came Euros 2016 in France, with Spain still under veteran coach Vicente Del Bosque but already without the status of an indisputable favorite.
It made it past the group stage but was eliminated by Italy in the last 16 in a game in which it never had a real chance.It was clear the national team needed to be refreshed, and the process started when the 51-year-old Lopetegui was brought in to replace Del Bosque after Euros 2016.
Lopetegui's only experience in charge of a top European club was with Portugal's FC Porto from 2014-16, when he wasn't able to win much. But the former goalkeeper had done well with Spain's youth teams, winning the under-19 European title in 2012 and the under-21 European title a year later.
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