Spanish football games are really entertaining and to be honest, I also like their beautiful game, even football fans like it even though they are not Spanish supporters.
The Dutch game is different from Spain. The Dutch prioritize fast games with exchange of positions when attacking or defending or known as total football. However, in the group stage, the Dutch game was not like when they played in the quarter final. In the quarter final, the Dutch football total was very strong.
It is true if you say it for previous years but in Euro 2024, Spain play more directly and faster than before. Their midfielders still have good ability for ball possession and can do it if they want but the tactical philosophy of their current coach is no longer tiki-taka and does not aim at high ball possession. We see that after Spain led France 2 - 1, their midfielders actually controlled the match and did not give France chance to create big pressure through dominant ball possession.
I am talking about a noticeably declining performance, which raised the astonishment of the England fans themselves and put the coach in an embarrassing position that might cost him his position after the end of the tournament.
Instead of the quality performances that many expected from a squad that included a striking attack, with Harry Kane, Billingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, Gareth Southgate’s team were content with flexibility that led them with difficulty to the semi-finals.
Many people can see and agree that England did not have an impressive Euro 2024 so far but they only need to win two more matches in whatever way, convincing or not, to take Euro 2024 crown. It matters most for a national team that did not win any big trophy since World Cup 1966.
Probably it's biggest concern of Southgate who wants to do everything necessary in his thinking, to win Euro 2024. I agree with many star players they have, they have due ability to play better and more impressive than what they have shown.