Spain's success is not about passing accuracy alone, nor can one reduce team quality to measuring the number of successful passes. Sure it's generally a good st

Spain's success is not about passing accuracy alone, nor can one reduce team quality to measuring the number of successful passes. Sure it's generally a good statistic, as is possession, but many other factors count and completely different styles can be equally successful. People tend to overreact to the latest result. Spain's biggest success was being able to accommodate to a system without a reference striker (Villa being injured). Puyol was also out and Sergio Ramos played very well as CB, leaving Arbeloa as RB despite being a dead spot supporting the attack. Xabi Alonso had a lot fewer of his long pin-point passes (his best quality) and had a more defensive role, Iniesta held the ball more to link Xavi and Silva. All in all it was very surprising that they won despite missing two of their very best players for the tournament. However, had they lost to Portugal in the penalty shoot-out (and they play a COMPLETELY different style with much fewer passes) then we wouldn't have this article in FP right now.