Yamal’s Spain could surpass 2010 generation — Oliseh

Former Nigeria captain, Sunday Oliseh, has explained why he believes Spain’s current World Cup-winning team has the potential to create another dominant era, highlighting the influence of Lamine Yamal and the work of head coach, Luis de la Fuente.

Speaking on Global Football Insight with Oliseh, the former Super Eagles handler compared Spain’s latest success with the golden generation that won Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012.

Oliseh explained that while the previous Spain generation was criticised for lacking a player with the individual brilliance of Lionel Messi, the current side has a young talent capable of producing special moments.

“Because I think they even have something better than the last time. They got Lamine. The last time they had a perfect team, but people were saying this team is good, but they’re missing Messi. Somebody like Messi who could do all that. But now this team is very good, and they have a Lamine Yamal,” he noted.

The former Ajax player stressed that Yamal’s ability to influence games without being at full fitness made his performances even more impressive.

“And one thing I would like you to realise, not to forget, Toyos, is that this Lamine Yamal played this championship with an injury.

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“He had an injury when the tournament started. He didn’t start the first game. He had to come in and then gradually build him. So he was not 100 per cent, but he was still able to carry the day, and that’s what I find exceptional about this player,” he added.

The Atlanta ‘96 Olympics gold medallist pointed out that the current Spain team is built from players across several European clubs, which makes their success different from the previous generation.

“If you want to compare both of them, one major difference is that the last Spanish team that dominated, they had the majority of the players from one club, Barcelona.

“But this time round, it’s mixed. You have players from Man City, you have players from Atlético club, you have players from Barcelona, you have players, you know, it’s just totally mixed up. Arsenal players,” the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner said.