As the debate intensifies between fans of "beautiful" football and those who favor the "pragmatic" approach, discussions have arisen about the importance of ball possession. During Euro 2020, Spain introduced a fresh perspective on this ongoing dispute. Proponents of "beautiful" football argue that possession and short passes are key foundations for ideal performance, while "pragmatic" football enthusiasts contend that the end result is more important than the means.
In the opening match of the tournament between Spain and Sweden, Spain demonstrated that ball possession might not be as crucial after winning possession yet dropping two points by ending in a goalless draw. Spanish coach Luis Enrique belongs to the school of beautiful football, which demands a good performance as much as it seeks positive results—a philosophy he inherited from his time coaching Barcelona.
Spain's possession against Sweden reached 75%, compared to Sweden's 25%, yet both teams ended up with just one point, rendering the Spanish possession largely insignificant. Despite making 17 attacking attempts that resulted in 13 shots, with only 5 on target, Spain's efforts were in vain due to their failure to score, primarily caused by a lackluster attack.
In contrast, with significantly less effort, Sweden achieved the same result despite having only 4 attacking attempts throughout the 90 minutes, none of which were on target against their hosts.
In various tournaments, there are indicators supporting the theory that possession is key to winning; however, other teams have succeeded by allowing their opponents to have the ball, winning with fewer opportunities—or perhaps with just one chance. In last month's Champions League final, Manchester City dominated possession, yet local rivals Chelsea won the coveted European title.
This scenario often repeats itself with teams like Atletico Madrid and Chelsea and squads managed by Portuguese coach José Mourinho, whose strategy typically involves relinquishing possession to the opponent and capitalizing on defensive mistakes from minimal chances.
In conclusion, despite Spain's new evidence in Euro 2020, the debate over the importance of possession will likely continue, as another team with a high possession percentage will eventually win, providing counter-evidence to the discourse.
