In world football, only a few club academies have shaped this game as done by FC Barcelona’s La Masia. Its impact was at its peak in 2010 when Spain lifted their first-ever Fifa World Cup Trophy. The success earned by Spain was mainly due to their core “La Masia”
Eric Cantona once famously said: “You can take all the players in the world, give them to another coach, and he will never achieve what Guardiola did. Why? Because of La Masia.”
La Masia Dominance in Spanish Squad
📌 Spain’s Starting XI in the Fifa World Cup final against the Netherlands featured seven La Masia players: Puyol, Piqué, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, and Villa.
📌The squad also included Víctor Valdés and Cesc Fàbregas on the bench, making La Masia’s presence evident.
📌These players weren’t just present in the squad, they were the main reason for Spain’s success. They dominated the game, playing a crucial role in Spain’s tiki-taka game.
Tiki-Taka: Perfectionist at La Masia
📌Spain’s main tactic was their tiki-taka style, known for short-passing, ball control, and positional play. This style evolved from Johan Cruyff’s “Total Football” period at Barcelona.
📌Xavi and Iniesta, were the architects of this style having mastered this under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona. They were the reasons Spain controlled games.
📌Sergio Busquets, he was a proper controller of the game. This quote says enough for him: “If you watch the game, you don’t see Busquets. But if you watch Busquets, you see the whole game.”
The Heart of Spain’s Success
📌Xavi– He was regarded as the best midfielder of that generation, he dictated Spain’s tempo with his precision, vision, and ball control.
📌 Iniesta’s creativity was key to Spain’s attack. He scored the crucial winning goal in the final against the Netherlands, securing Spain’s first World Cup.
📌Their chemistry from La Masia and Barcelona helped Spain to dominate midfield battles around the world and secure their first World Cup.
La Masia Backbone
📌Spain conceded only two goals in the entire tournament, from groups-stage to the finals. All thanks to their core from La Masia.
📌Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué, both La Masia graduates, a blend of youth and experience built a solid back-line for Spain.
📌Puyol, the leader of the team scored the winning goal against Germany in the semifinals.
La Masia’s Legacy
📌Spain’s 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euro win solidified La Masia’s footprint in world football.
📌The success influenced football worldwide, making teams adopt their famous tiki-taka philosophy.
Conclusion
Spain’s historic win in 2010 wasn’t just about individual brilliance, it was a collective victory shaped by Barcelona’s La Masia.