Ranking Spain's Players Following Their Euro 2016 Exit

The dynasty is over. Spain's empire is no more. 

On Tuesday, La Roja returned home empty-handed from Paris, where Italy had ambushed them a day earlier at Euro 2016 to strip them of the second of their two titles that they'd so famously held at once. 

The manner of it was brutal and painful; the extent of Italy's dominance was striking. When eras end, such is often the case, and Spain will now look ahead and rebuild, aware that evolution is necessary for them to return to the top. 

Already, manager Vicente del Bosque has departed, as reported by the Guardian, and other changes will likely follow. For Spain, the process will be a delicate one, but as Euro 2016 showed, they need something new to reinvigorate them, a degree of their verve having departed with the sense of supremacy. 

"We are no longer the best," said Marca on Tuesday. "It was beautiful while it lasted."

It was, but before turning our attention to Spain's future, here we look back at their Euro 2016 campaign and rank each player for their performances at the tournament. 

Some notes on the rankings:

1. Each player's ranking has been determined by their performances at Euro 2016 only and doesn't factor in any sort of a wider picture of their seniority or importance.
2. Players who didn't feature at the tournament (Iker Casillas, Sergio Rico, Marc Bartra, Hector Bellerin and Mikel San Jose) have naturally been left out.
3. Given that Spain used the same starting XI for all four games, those 11 players all rank above those used as substitutes, as one's amount of playing time carries weight here. Thus, these rankings are essentially split in two between substitutes and starters.

Cesar Azpilicueta completed only nine minutes at Euro 2016, when he replaced Jordi Alba late on during the 3-0 win over Turkey. 

In that brief time, he managed to get across and help prevent a late consolation goal for the Turks, and he can be considered unlucky not to feature more often given the growing fatigue and declining performances of Juanfran as the tournament wore on. 

Despite having been a regular in the Spain team under Vicente del Bosque, Pedro spent the bulk of Euro 2016 watching from the sidelines and only caught the headlines because of some controversial comments. 

In his place, Nolito was rightly preferred by Del Bosque for his superior form over the course of the 2015-16 season, seeing Pedro complete only 17 minutes at the tournament across two late substitute appearances. 

When he came on against Italy, though, his pace and threat of getting in behind did help to force the Italians very deep in the dying stages. 

Big things are expected of Koke in a Spain shirt, but at the moment, he's still being forced to bide his time. 

In France, the Atletico Madrid midfielder saw just 19 minutes of action when he was introduced for Cesc Fabregas against Turkey. 

In limited time, however, Koke briefly demonstrated what he can bring to this La Roja outfit, pressing relentlessly at a time when his team-mates were slowing down and using his direct, aggressive passing to seek out Alvaro Morata at every opportunity.  

It remains a reflection of Spain's depth that a player of Thiago Alcantara's ability battled for playing time at Euro 2016. 

Like those already mentioned, the Bayern Munich midfielder was forced to settle for late substitute appearances in France and in total completed only 26 minutes. 

It should be noted, though, that Thiago actually played an important role in changing the flow of the game against the Czech Republic with a number of off-the-ball runs that Fabregas (the man he replaced) had failed to make to unbalance the Czech defence. 

In the lead up to this tournament, there had been a widespread desire in Spain to see Aritz Aduriz included in Vicente del Bosque's squad. After a sparkling season for Athletic Bilbao, he was viewed as a valuable alternative, a player representing a Plan B. 

So Del Bosque picked him, but it didn't work out.

That, though, was hardly Aduriz's fault. 

As a more traditional centre-forward who thrives on a steady diet of crosses, it's imperative to use Aduriz in conjunction with genuine wide men.

At Euro 2016, though, two of the Basque's three appearances came when Nolito had been removed—against Italy, he replaced the winger—leaving the veteran striker to be served by a narrow midfield unsuited to catering for him.  

Thus, Aduriz often looked like an awkward fit, attempting to be something he's not and suffering as a result.  

Lucas Vazquez didn't appear for Spain until the very end of their campaign in France, but immediately, he made a difference.

Coming on to replace Alvaro Morata against Italy, the Real Madrid winger used his hard, direct running to add a different dimension to La Roja's play, and he instantly forced Antonio Conte's men deeper by driving at the defence.

It was a neat example of exactly what Vazquez provided at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2015-16, and that point of difference he brings will be important for Spain as they seek to tinker with their style in the coming years.  

It wasn't surprising to see Vicente del Bosque turn to Villarreal stalwart Bruno Soriano in midfield in second halves during Euro 2016. 

The Spain boss of course used Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso as a double pivot during the nation's successes at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012, and here at Euro 2016, he did something a little similar with Bruno and Busquets in a bid to control games. 

Against Turkey, the 32-year-old's introduction had exactly that effect as Spain slowed down following their blistering opening, and it would have been good to see Del Bosque utilise him when the midfield desperately needed reinforcing against Italy. 

Throughout his career, Sergio Ramos has had a habit for finding his best form as the stakes have grown higher. But not here. 

After his characteristic late-season surge during Real Madrid's run to La Undecima in last season's Champions League, Spain had hoped they would get that Ramos at Euro 2016. Instead, La Roja got the late-2015 version—the sloppy, rash and erratic Ramos who struggled mightily in the first half of Real Madrid's 2015-16 campaign. 

Against the Czech Republic and Turkey, some clumsy errors in possession resulted in counter-attacks, with one against the Turks seeing him pick up a problematic yellow card in the opening minutes.

Against Croatia, he was then disastrous, when his casual defending played a role in the opponents' opening goal, and his missed penalty proved extremely costly. 

To finish his Euro 2016 campaign, the centre-back was consistently troubled by Italy's forward pairing of Graziano Pelle and Eder, while he was also the player who conceded the reckless free-kick that led to the Italians' crucial opener. 

Juanfran made a strong start to Euro 2016 when he enjoyed an influential opening half against the Czech Republic in Toulouse.

Forming a potent relationship with David Silva down the right flank, the full-back was involved in the creation of a number of Spain's scoring chances, and he exhibited more of that early on against Turkey, too. 

But as the tournament wore on, the Atletico Madrid man began to struggle. 

Against Croatia, he slowed down considerably in the second half as a sense of fatigue set in. That saw him caught badly up field for Croatia's late winner, when Ivan Perisic stormed away and Juanfran didn't have the legs to get back. 

Then in the clash with the Italians, the 31-year-old was dominated by wing-back Mattia De Sciglio, and he looked both too exhausted and too intimidated by the threat of Italy's counter-attacks to push forward and offer vital width against a back three. 

Throughout Spain's time in France, the veteran defender also displayed a somewhat rhythm-affecting habit for halting his attacking runs when receiving possession on the flank, delaying the delivery of crosses and pull-backs. 

If not for David De Gea, Spain would have been butchered by Italy. And yet the contradiction is that he was also part of the reason for the defeat, as well as being a major reason for why Spain had to face Italy in the first place. 

In La Roja's previous outing, the goalkeeper's failure to keep out Perisic at his near post sent Del Bosque's men to the daunting side of the draw, instead of a round-of-16 clash with a limited Portugal and a gentle-looking run after that.

De Gea's feeling of shakiness earlier in that clash—Ivan Rakitic went within inches of punishing him for being too slow when playing out from the back, while an unconvincing punch from a corner almost resulted in a goal, too—had also allowed Croatia to develop momentum despite going behind. 

Days later against Italy, the Manchester United man's parried save from Eder's free-kick then allowed Giorgio Chiellini to score, despite his fine work throughout the rest of the encounter. 

For a brief time, he sparkled. For a brief time, there were signs of a potent forward pairing between he and Alvaro Morata. For a brief time, he looked capable of being the difference maker. 

But for the most part, it didn't quite happen for Nolito at Euro 2016. 

Though he caused Turkey havoc in La Roja's second outing at the tournament, assisting Spain's first goal and scoring the second in a dominant first-half display, the rest of Nolito's time in France was characterised by a frenetic messiness. 

Against the Czech Republic, it seemed as though the nerves of his first international tournament appearance got the better of him, as touches and passes went astray in a chaotic showing. It was a similar story late against Croatia and then again against Italy—in both games, he was subbed in the second half—when the winger looked as if he was simply trying too hard, forcing things that weren't there. 

In his desire to attack and attack, his feet often seemed to be going faster than his mind, and it eventually became a problem for Spain's fluency against the Italians. 

It wasn't a coincidence that Spain played their best football at Euro 2016 when Cesc Fabregas was aggressive.

In La Roja's dismantling of Turkey, the Chelsea midfielder used his direct, incisive passing to trouble Fatih Terim's defence, while his willingness to be a regular runner from midfield into the Turks' box consistently unbalanced Spain's opponents. 

Fabregas again showed those traits in the first half against Croatia, with his darting run and square ball to Morata the key elements in the side's opener. 

But the issue was that the former Arsenal captain wasn't always in that mindset. 

In Spain's meeting with the Czechs in the first round of games, Fabregas lacked intent with his passing and was passive with his off-the-ball movement. It left a heavy creative burden on Andres Iniesta.

Against Italy, Fabregas was troubled by the pressing from Antonio Conte's men, who closed down his passing angles and limited space, forcing him to regularly look backward. 

Euro 2016 was a case of two very distinct halves for Jordi Alba. 

As he's often done for Spain, the Barcelona left-back provided genuine attacking punch in the country's two opening games at the tournament.

Against the Czech Republic, his darting runs into the box kept pushing Spain's opponents deeper and deeper, and he probably should have scored when David Silva played him in while mimicking the way Lionel Messi picks out Alba with chipped balls after turning inside onto his left boot.

Alba was also influential against Turkey, playing a key role in both the first and third goals for La Roja.

But thereafter, the left-back drifted out of the tournament somewhat.

When Spain met Croatia, he rarely got beyond the opponents' defensive line and seemed threatened by the potential of Darijo Srna and Perisic going the other way down his flank.

Like Juanfran, Alba also struggled to deal with Italy's unique system, in which Alessandro Florenzi pinned him back as the wing-backs got forward to switch the shape from a 3-5-2 to a 3-3-4 when attacking. 

For many observers, the enduring image of Sergio Busquets' campaign at Euro 2016 will be the way Italy completely shut him out of the game in the round of 16 through their use of intense pressing. 

With two forwards and a pair of wing-backs emboldened by a sturdy back three, Conte's side pressured Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and David De Gea deep in Spain's own half, forcing them to punt the ball long and bypass the midfield. 

With Spain unwilling to alter their shape, Busquets was left in the middle of the pitch, watching the ball fly past him and over his head. 

But such an image shouldn't obscure the fact the Barcelona anchor was excellent prior to that.

Against Turkey and Croatia in particular, the midfielder was one of Spain's leading orchestrators, his swift switching of play from tight spaces and one-touch passing regularly releasing team-mates into space.  

Three goals from four appearances was a solid return for Alvaro Morata at Euro 2016—particularly given the difficulties many have experienced while holding the striker position for Spain. 

Though he really struggled against Italy's back three that know him inside-out from their time at Juventus, the 23-year-old showed he has the potential to be a fine striker for La Roja in the coming years with encouraging performances in the other games.

Indeed, after spending a little too much time roaming against the Czechs, Morata reined in his movement against Turkey and Croatia, better maintaining a central position and regularly attacking the six-yard box. 

In doing so, he was twice on hand to put away balls squared across the penalty area, while his sharp, focused runs dragged Turkey's defence in particular all over the place. 

That header was unstoppable, too. 

Always influential in a Spain shirt, David Silva was once again one of his country's standouts at Euro 2016. 

Cutting inside from the left wing, the Manchester City star routinely created chances and openings for team-mates with a combination of chipped balls and reverse passes that unbalanced back-fours looking to push out when he wheeled onto his left side. 

When Spain were at their best against Turkey and in the opening stages of the clash with Croatia, Silva's link-up work with Fabregas was particularly strong, while he and Juanfran also formed a strong right-sided partnership in Spain's first two outings.

If there was one knock on Silva's overall display at this tournament, though, it was his habit to pass up shooting opportunities in good positions, one of which came at a crucial time late against Italy.  

Composed and polished, consistent and unyielding, Gerard Pique was very impressive at Euro 2016. 

After scoring Spain's dramatic late winner against the Czech Republic, the Barcelona centre-back spent the rest of the tournament mopping up, halting attacks, laying key tackles and largely cleaning up for his wayward defensive partner, Sergio Ramos. 

Essentially, it was Pique in the sort of form he's been in for Barcelona for the last 18 months following a difficult spell in late 2014. And though he admitted following Spain's exit that "we don't have the level that we had a couple of years ago," speaking of a collective level rather than a personal one, he can't be accused of dropping his. 

David Silva called him "incredible." Ivan Rakitic said he represented the "magic of football." Christian Vieri told AS (h/t the Mirror) he was like "Harry Potter."

AS simply said: "Iniesta astonishes the world."

And he did.

Watching Andres Iniesta at Euro 2016 was as joyful as it gets.