Spanish soccer wins. Again.
Sevilla added another title to the top-ranked country’s recent roll of international honors on Wednesday, beating Portugal’s champions Benfica in a penalty shootout after the Europa League final finished 0-0 after extra time.
Since 2006, Sevilla have won this competition three times, Barcelona have won three Champions League titles and Spain have taken home three straight major tournament trophies.
Though Sevilla did not play with the precision passing made famous by the national team or Barcelona, their technique in taking and saving penalties was outstanding. Just as Spain’s was when they ousted Portugal in a shootout in the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
Victory here ensured that Spain will sweep the season-ending European club titles next weekend, when Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid play in the Champions League final.
Of course, next season’s curtain-raising UEFA Super Cup in August will now also be an all-Spanish clash featuring the two club-competition winners.
Before then, the biggest prize of all could return to Spain.
Spain are to kick off their World Cup title defense in Brazil next month and seek to be the first back-to-back winners since Brazil in 1962. That would also set a record of four consecutive top-level tournament triumphs following the dominant Euro 2008 and 2012 teams.
Such is Spain’s strength that they found space for only one Sevilla player — defender Alberto Moreno — in the 30-man provisional World Cup squad announced on Tuesday.
Sevilla midfielder Stephane Mbia — who is to go to the World Cup with Cameroon — said he was not surprised at Spain’s winning streak.
“It’s just tactics. Think about everything. They play with the head,” said Mbia, who saluted Sevilla fans behind the goal after scoring their second penalty in the 4-2 shootout win.
“Spanish football is like a family. It’s a great thing for a player,” said the Cameroonian, who has also played in France and England.
Sevilla got into the Europa League only after two clubs who finished above them in the past season’s La Liga table were denied entry by UEFA for their financial problems — the flipside of Spain’s soccer success during a major economic crisis there.
Malaga’s and Rayo Vallecano’s losses led to Sevilla’s gain. And Spain’s. Again.
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