Ah, the beautiful game. Football unites us all with its universal appeal, and the world’s most popular sport is played avidly by professionals and amateurs all across the globe. Many fans follow the major leagues of Europe, such as the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga, and Serie A.
But while the sport is the same, there are some differences between them. Let’s look at Spain compared with Italy — each has its peculiarities and traditions, all of which stem from cultural, historical, and technical differences.
The style of play and overall philosophy of the game affect the action on the pitch — Spanish football is characterized as fluid and highly technical. In contrast, Italian football is known for its defensive discipline and astute tactics. Let’s take a closer look.
Style of Play
One of the main ways that football differs between Italy and Spain is in the style of play. Italian football is renowned for its astute tactical organization and defensive solidity and puts more emphasis on physical power and strength in the game. The ‘catenaccio’ (‘door-bolt’ in Italian) defensive style was developed in the 1960s. It was associated with iconic manager Helenio Herrera at Inter Milan, focusing on minimizing space for an opposing team, disrupting their rhythm, and waiting to counter-attack. The system was the first to incorporate a sweeper, a free-roaming defender behind the main defensive line.
Spanish football, on the other hand, is famed for its offensive play, fluidity, and ball possession. The now near-ubiquitous philosophy of ‘tiki-taka’ which emphasizes short, quick passes, movement, and the holding of possession to dictate the tempo of the game is primarily associated with the successes of Barcelona and the Spanish national team from the mid-2000s onwards. The system requires a high level of technical ability, and deep levels of teamwork and game awareness, as well as versatility of players to move into other positions.
Training
These differences are reflected in the styles of training that the two nations primarily undertake, as well as the development of young players. In Italy, heavy emphasis is placed on tactics and defense from youth levels up. Defensive dynamics are studied, and tactics are worked out — Italian coaches and managers will spend a lot of time studying opponents to develop strategy around a perceived weakness, or to find ways to limit their strengths.
In Spain, players are pushed to develop individual technique, practicing ball control, passing, and dribbling. There is more room to express creativity — even goalkeepers, on top of their regular training and preparation regimen, are taught many outfield skills. This approach has led the Spanish leagues to produce many of the world’s most technically gifted, and creative footballers of recent years.
Culture
Fans and supporters also share many of the values of their teams and express themselves in different ways. In Italy they admire tactical ingenuity, as well as defensive resilience — a low-scoring victory or underdog draw is celebrated as much as a rout. Italian sides often have a portion of ‘ultras’ among their fan base, who are passionate supporters who create intense stadium atmospheres with chants, flares, and banners. Sides like Lazio, AC Milan, and Napoli have some of the most passionate ultras.
In Spain creativity, flair, and elegance are given more kudos by fans, and they expect goals when their side plays. Rather than ultras, Spanish football is defined more by its intense regional rivalries, such as El Clásico (Real Madrid vs. Barcelona) and the Seville Derby (Sevilla vs. Real Betis).
Tactical Philosophy
You may have correctly assumed by now that in Italy tactics are something of a science. Italian coaches are famed for their rigorous attention to detail, defining precise roles for their players, and predicting intricate details of gameplay and outcomes. Discipline and organization are paramount.
In Spain, tactics are more art than science. Coaches and managers prefer a more improvisational approach leaning heavily on creativity and fluidity. Players are often able, and encouraged, to switch positions to support an attack or to bolster a defense. This makes tactical ability a strength.
Spanish and Italian football are very different beasts. But notwithstanding their differences, one thing they have in common is that their elite leagues, La Liga and Serie A, produce some of the world’s best players and the best football you’ll see.
