'One step away': united Spain sniff success

Imperious Spain have taken Euro 2024 by storm with six straight wins, including a comeback against mean-defending France in their semi-final despite missing several key starters.

Against Les Bleus, Spain were without suspended defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, plus midfielder Pedri, who is out of the tournament due to a knee injury.

But despite going down a goal early, they never seemed to panic, recovering with two goals in four minutes then controlling their lead with the same maturity and composure they have shown for the last few weeks regardless of their opponent.

Defender Dani Vivian, 24, received his first international call-up early this year after a solid season with Spanish Cup winners Athletic Bilbao. Still young and relatively inexperienced for a centre-back, Vivian arrived in Germany as Spain's fourth option on defence.

But on Tuesday, with both Carvajal and Le Normand out, he had to step in when 38-year-old full back Jesus Navas was starting to tire and risking a second yellow card despite doing well to shackle Kylian Mbappe after the early goal.

Navas was the last player in the squad from Spain's golden generation that won the 2010 World Cup and back-to-back Euros in 2008 and 2012. But despite filling such big shoes, Vivian was a rock for the last half an hour, winning all his challenges and showing the confidence of an experienced veteran.

'WORKING FOR COMMON GOOD'

Vivian made four crucial clearances and completed 83% of his passes, helping Spain neutralize France's offence late on.

Team unity was the special factor, he said.

"In the end, we all work for the common good. Everyone has their own personality and it's good that there are people who show different things, but following a pattern so that everything goes well. Here, everyone knows he has a role to play," he told a press conference on Thursday.

"We try not to think too much about what could be, but what is ahead of us: the daily work and preparing properly each game like it is a final. When we have time off we try to visualize, rest and be in a positive frame of mind."

Vivian, one of seven Spanish players from the Basque region, said that it was good to have a personal connection with coach Luis de la Fuente, who was also once a defender at Athletic Bilbao.

De la Fuente was in the Bilbao team that won the league-cup double in 1984 while Vivian, Unai Simon and Nico Williams were in the team that ended a 40-year title drought a few months ago when they won the Copa del Rey.

"Beyond any ideology, there is a passion for football that we all share," Vivian said.

"We feel like winners every day, but that doesn't mean we feel like we have already won the Euros. We have to take it step by step, day by day. We visualize ourselves working to achieve what we all want. And we are one step away from that goal."