"The torch has been passed on to a new generation," declared the 35th president of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural speech, referring to an old Olympic ritual revived years earlier in Berlin.
As a nod to antiquity, it was the controversial 1936 Games that revived the idea of carrying the sacred torch from the sanctuary of Olympia to the stadium and lighting the cauldron (revived from Amsterdam eight years earlier) on the opening day.
Today, 15 June 2024, the Spanish national team arrives at the same Olympic Stadium in the German capital looking to light its particular road to glory at this year’s European Championships.
Click here to listen to Luis de la Fuente and captain Rodrigo Hernández’ comments before the match.
A new generation, that of the youngsters Lamine, Pedri, Nico Williams and Fermín López is mixed with that of the veterans Navas, Carvajal, Nacho, Joselu and Morata to give birth to a national team that aspires to go deep in this tournament with the cohesive strength of the collective driving them forward.
This Saturday at 18:00 (Spanish peninsular time with La1 live and comprehensive coverage on our official media) Luis de la Fuente and his team face the first Herculean test against the great intimate enemy of the last few continental events: Zlatko Dalić's Croatia.
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Group-stage opponents in the glorious memory of 2012, bitter ones four years later, in the dizzying round of 16 in 2021 and opponents in the last UEFA Nations League final, the Balkan chess-players arrive in Germany ready to give the best last dance to Luka Modrić (he turns 39 next month), supported by an exuberant midfield and notable contributions such as those of Josko Gvardiol at left-back and Ante Budimir up front.
A fearsome opponent supported by tens of thousands of fans in the Berlin stands, facing a fearless Spain with all their players available except for, as a precaution, centre-back Aymeric Laporte and with an unstoppable optimism after the dominant displays against Andorra and Northern Ireland along with the extraordinary performances in training the team has put in during the week of preparation on German soil.
England referee Michael Oliver will officiate the match, with compatriot Stuart Attwell acting as the video assistant referee.
Spain today march forward with a spirit of togetherness quite apart from that which on 1 August 1936 prevented a Spain, already embroiled in civil strife, from taking part in the opening ceremony at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
88 years later, Luis de la Fuente and his team have ensured that 48.7 million Spaniards will enjoy this European Championships feeling the same red shirt that from this Saturday should make us dream of the legendary fire that will light the way back to Berlin for the final on 14 July. The torch's great journey begins today.