Spain has no secrets and dances to the rhythm imposed by Luis Enrique: possession, commitment and intensity

Luis Enrico Follow the game very carefully. Arms crossed and standing at one end of the technical area. It doesn’t matter too much where the ball is. That’s his favorite spot on the pitch to watch everything he does. Spain in his debut match. And what the team made of him was a show of good football. They beat weak rivals Costa Rica and proved, after Germany’s surprise defeat against Japan, that they are the favorites to win the group and go far in this World Cup. It was a big win. It was 7-0. But the difference could be much more. It could be scary.

When Luis Enrique unties his arms, he puts his hands in his pockets. He makes a gesture asking his players to leave quickly. He ask for pressure. Ask for intensity. He calls one of your managers and downloads a message. Then he calls another. He doesn’t take a breath.

Suddenly, DT disappears from view from the press box, located on the third tray of the Al Thumama stadium, which showed many, too many, empty seats. Repeat this rite every time Spain have a corner kick or free-kick in their favour. As soon as the ball is put back into play, it returns to its position. He releases tension, squat down like Bielsa. He gets up and puts his hands back in his pockets.

Far from being in frenzy mode, like many other managers, the man who won it all with the other colossal Messi-era Barcelona exudes calm. Your team too. It is true that Costa Rica has cooperated in the cause. He was demolished by a Spain that always had the ball. Possession has never dropped below 70% for Europeans that they played with a particular double five and this explains this dominance in the game.

Sergio Busquetthe survivor of the world champion in South Africa 2010, is the center of the impetuous and judicious team Gavi and Pedrothe Xavi and Iniesta of the new generation. Rodri, City’s exquisite midfielder, is the first central scorer. Impossible to get the ball away from Spain, who comes and goes until he finds a hole and also makes it look like Keylor Navas wasn’t Keylor Navas.

Luis Enrique suddenly disappears. There is no corner kick or free kick in favor, but he still goes on to the bench. He exchanges concepts with his assistants and prepares two modifications. Take out Ferran Torres, his son-in-law and scorer of two goals, and Pedri, one of the brains, when just 10 minutes into the second half had passed. His team was already winning 4-0. Match liquidated.

Go back to the bank and call an assistant. He runs in search of two other players. Barely a quarter of an hour has passed since the plug-in and I have given rest to Jordi Alba – what a delight of spout he has put in – and Busquets. Four minutes later he repeats the ritual and Asensio comes out, author of the second – who moved like a sort of false 9, coming in and out to create passages for Dani Olmo – he opened the account – and the restless Ferrán Torres.

Luis Enrique gets up. But he goes right in. To celebrate the fifth of Spain. Gavi’s goal. His team doesn’t take their foot off the accelerator. He doesn’t allow it.

Costa Rica is ready to go to the locker room now. Spain are here to keep scoring goals. He does them and every now and then the song plays around the stadium ‘My Big Night’from Raffaello, the theme that the Spaniards have chosen to celebrate their goals in this World Cup. Carlos Soler scores first. After Alvaro Morata. The match is already 7-0, the 90th minute is approaching. And the DT sees that his team is in a bad position and raises both arms to bring the attackers back. And they come back.

Luis Enrique is the DT who understands everything and keeps nothing silent. He is the host of a Twitch channel, armed by his country’s federation, and answers anyone who dares to ask. He has no secrets. You don’t need them. He knows that his team reacts to every gesture and every word. And more now. He knows that Spain has everything to dream of a happy ending in the desert. Although, of course, they still have a litmus test to overcome: it will be against an injured Germany on Sunday.

Doha, Qatar. Special delivery.