Luis Enrique’s Spanish revolution takes nerve-shredding step forward | Jonathan Wilson

A breathless victory over Croatia keeps Spain in the Euro 2020 reckoning but desire for more verticality is shredding nerves

Luis Enrique wants Spain to be more vertical, but the problem with verticality is that it can lead to chaos. At least with the sterility of possession there is a sense of control – and against Croatia on Monday night there was none of that. But it may be that a draining win that toyed with the emotions and demanded extraordinary character was a necessary battle in the Luis Enrique revolution.

Not that there was much sign of that in the first half, which began in the traditional manner. Pass, pass, pass, miss. Pass, pass, pass, miss. Then a twist: pass, pass, pass, absurd own goal. Every time you think Spain can’t possibly wring any more out of the same old joke, they find a new level of comedic haplessness.

Related: Spain’s Álvaro Morata finds something extra to beat Croatia in thriller

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