Henry: Spain Didn't Used to Win This Way, Now They're Number One at All Levels

French football legend Thierry Henry has stated that Spain's victory over France in their World Cup semi-final clash was entirely deserved. The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker, now a pundit for American television channel Fox Sports, was full of praise for the Spanish squad.

"The Spanish controlled the ball and showed why they are European champions. They were significantly stronger, and the better team won," Henry commented. "If you don't approach the game with the right mindset from the start, it becomes very difficult. Spain is the toughest opponent to be trailing 0-1 against. France needs to analyze what happened and come back stronger to try and overcome their recent formidable rival."

The 1998 World Cup winner emphasized Spain's dominance across all levels of global football.

"The Spanish are incredibly strong – in women's football, youth categories, at the Olympic Games. I myself lost to them in 2024. They are always a factor. They possess an identity, a philosophy, and play at a very high level. Their coaches know the system to perfection, which is evident. They also have stars in their squad," he added.

Henry specifically highlighted "La Furia Roja's" playing style: "When Spain has the ball, they simply don't give it to you; you have to win it back yourself. I want to congratulate them on their system. They didn't used to know how to win this way, but now they are number one at all levels."

According to Henry, the key to their success lies in their established philosophy and discipline. "They have realized that the ball moves, but every player must maintain their position and have faith in their teammates. It doesn't matter if it's Baena or Nico Williams on the field – they know what to do from the age of nine. Regardless of how many games they've played for the national team, they follow the same style," Thierry Henry concluded his analysis.