Spain have reached the final of this year’s World Cup, defeating France in the semi-final staged in Arlington, according to a report by Sid Lowe for the Guardian. The piece frames the achievement around the squad’s sense of togetherness and its commitment to a collective identity that, in Lowe’s words, “goes back a long way.”

Ahead of the semi-final, coach Luis de la Fuente gathered what he described as his “family” in the dressing room to deliver a final message. According to the Guardian, he had known for some time what he wanted to say, having repeated the same idea for more than 50 days. “We’re facing one of the best lineups in the world, but we’re the best team in the world,” he told the players.

De la Fuente had earlier previewed his message, saying he would tell the team “that this is a unique stage, the kind of moment that may never be repeated again, and that we have to be ourselves.” That sentiment, the Guardian reports, crystallised into the line he delivered before kick-off.

The celebrations that followed were captured in the report. Defender Marc Cucurella was heard exclaiming what a recital it had been as the players returned to the dressing room. A call also came in to De la Fuente from King Felipe, offering congratulations in more measured terms, according to the Guardian.

The mood afterwards was a mix of celebration and reflection. The Guardian describes Jamaican music blasting out, pizza being passed around, and players bouncing about, while others simply sat and took in what they had achieved. “It was written: we started in Atlanta and we end in New York,” said Dani Olmo, referencing the team’s journey through the tournament.

Lowe’s analysis positions Spain’s success at what he calls a “star-powered World Cup” as evidence of the value of the collective and of control, contrasting the team’s approach with an emphasis on individual stars elsewhere in the competition.