On The Ball

Tiki-taka not passe but Spain need to find a style that works

In this photo taken on June 3, 2021, Spain's players gather during a training session at the Ciudad del Futbol in Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain. PHOTO: AFP
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

It was the day a philosophy ate itself. Tiki-taka may have changed football, but it also warped Spain.

Their last game in a major tournament turned into the most pointless display of passing in the history of football. For them, it was a day of 1,000 passes and one goal; or, to be precise, 1,006 completed passes and when all they had to show for it was an own goal by Russia's 38-year-old defender Sergei Ignashevich.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.