MADRID - In an ominous sign for their rivals for an Olympic soccer
medal, Spain's coach Luis Milla says his team at the London Games will
be a richly talented and well-drilled outfit with the same roots and
playing style as the nation's all-conquering senior side.
The Spanish have swept to back-to-back European titles with a first World Cup triumph in between by honing the style of fast-flowing, possession-based football known as "tiki-taka" to something close to perfection.
Many of the young players who will feature for the Iberian nation at the London Games, where Spain will make their first appearance in the football competition in 12 years, are products of the same youth academies that spawned Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas and Fernando Torres.
In an interview with Reuters at the Olympic team's training base outside Madrid on Monday (Tuesday, PHL time), Milla said he was benefiting from the work done in youth schools from the richest La Liga clubs such as Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao down to those in lower leagues.
"It's our very good fortune that the clubs are doing fantastic work in their academies, from the most modest up to the first division," said Milla, a former Barca and Real Madrid midfielder who led a Spanish side featuring many of the Olympic squad to a European under-21 title last year.
"We coaches have to adapt to the already established profile of the players and do things in a similar way to the senior side," added the 46-year-old.
"That means understanding the dynamic of the game, trying to impose absolute domination, trying to dominate the ball."
The Spanish have swept to back-to-back European titles with a first World Cup triumph in between by honing the style of fast-flowing, possession-based football known as "tiki-taka" to something close to perfection.
Many of the young players who will feature for the Iberian nation at the London Games, where Spain will make their first appearance in the football competition in 12 years, are products of the same youth academies that spawned Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas and Fernando Torres.
In an interview with Reuters at the Olympic team's training base outside Madrid on Monday (Tuesday, PHL time), Milla said he was benefiting from the work done in youth schools from the richest La Liga clubs such as Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao down to those in lower leagues.
"It's our very good fortune that the clubs are doing fantastic work in their academies, from the most modest up to the first division," said Milla, a former Barca and Real Madrid midfielder who led a Spanish side featuring many of the Olympic squad to a European under-21 title last year.
"We coaches have to adapt to the already established profile of the players and do things in a similar way to the senior side," added the 46-year-old.
"That means understanding the dynamic of the game, trying to impose absolute domination, trying to dominate the ball."
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