Spain’s performance in the Futsal World Cup was disappointing, with no excuses that could mask their shortcomings, despite the coach’s efforts to rationalize the defeat. Their loss to Venezuela in the round of 16, compounded by earlier defeats against France and Iran, highlighted deep-rooted issues. Blaming a single factor or chalking it up to an off day would ignore the underlying flaws that Spain exhibited throughout their time in Uzbekistan.
From the opening match against Kazakhstan, Spain revealed errors that persisted and eventually led to their premature exit. While they weren’t the top contenders to win the tournament, their performance fell far short of even moderate expectations.
LACK OF EFFICIENCY
One of Spain’s most glaring issues was their inability to convert opportunities into goals. Across all four games, the team consistently fired numerous shots but failed to score. Long-range attempts became their main strategy, but even the likes of Mellado, Catela, and Adolfo, known for their shooting abilities, struggled to find the net.
In the opening match, Kazakhstan’s goalkeeper Higuita was exceptional, as expected from one of the world’s best. However, the same story repeated itself with goalkeepers from New Zealand, Libya, and Venezuela, who all gained confidence from Spain’s long-distance efforts, driving the Spanish players into frustration. Even when Spain found themselves in advantageous positions, such as in the thrashings of New Zealand and Libya, the inefficiency of their attack remained evident.
LACK OF TACTICAL FLEXIBILITY
Spain’s reliance on a rigid “Plan A” left them vulnerable. Against Kazakhstan and Venezuela, the same tactic of long possessions and speculative long-range shots was repeatedly employed, with little success. There was an over-reliance on individual brilliance to convert chances, and when those players couldn’t deliver, the team had no alternative approach.
The use of a pivot, despite having players like Raúl Gómez and Gordillo, was almost nonexistent, and Spain failed to threaten in transitional play. While they performed well in open spaces, as seen against Libya, they struggled miserably against more compact, defensive teams.
ABSENCE OF STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
Although Spain didn’t have a singular star player, they had several key players in Mellado, Adolfo, Catela, and Cortés, who were expected to shoulder the team’s burden. Unfortunately, none of them had a particularly impressive tournament.
Mellado had one good game against Libya but was otherwise ineffective. Adolfo, despite his goal-scoring reputation, struggled in front of goal. Catela, who led the team during difficult moments, and Cortés, who consistently tried to create chances, were among the few who showed flashes of brilliance. Without their stars at peak performance, advancing in the tournament was always going to be an uphill battle.
LACK OF CREATIVITY
Vidal’s squad lacked players willing to take risks and push forward. Many were more defensively oriented, with few who could deliver the creative spark needed to unlock tight defenses. This could be seen as a structural issue, as Spain tends to produce tactically disciplined players, but ones who lack flair in the final third. Only Catela and Cortés offered some creativity, and unsurprisingly, they were the most effective in breaking down the stubborn defenses they faced.
DEFENSIVE VULNERABILITIES
Spain dominated possession throughout the tournament, spending the majority of time in attack. However, when opponents did manage to break forward, Spain was easily punished. The opening goal against Kazakhstan, scored within seconds, set the tone. Even against lesser opponents like New Zealand, Spain found themselves conceding early. Venezuela, too, caused problems with every counterattack. Spain’s defensive fragility, coupled with their attacking inefficiency, created a dangerous combination that they couldn’t afford.
QUESTIONABLE USE OF PLAYERS
Coach Fede Vidal can also be criticized for his management of player minutes. While it made sense for players like Mellado and Adolfo to get extended game time due to their importance, other decisions were harder to understand.
Players like Tomaz and Boyis, both valuable in defensive situations and building out from the back, were underutilized in matches where Spain’s opponents focused on counterattacking. The case of Gordillo was particularly puzzling. Despite making the most of his limited time, including scoring against Kazakhstan and hitting the post against Venezuela, he saw very little game time, denying Spain a potential solution to their offensive woes.