GNIEWINO, Poland – Spain's Vicente Del Bosque is two victories away from emulating West Germany's Helmut Schoen Sunday, to date the only coach to win both the World Cup and the European Championship. Del Bosque 61, took over from Luis Aragones after Euro 2008 and lifted the World Cup two years later after a relatively seamless transition owing to the respect of the squad for a man who twice conquered Europe with Real Madrid. His success two years ago saw King Juan Carlos bestow the title of the 1st Marquis of Del Bosque in recognition of his achievements and now the moustachioed coach must conquer another summit - if Portugal can first be waylaid in the semifinals and then Germany or Italy dispatched in the final. If the Spanish do win the title they will become the first side ever to win three consecutive major international tournaments and, given the form of the Germans in particular, Del Bosque has his work cut out even considering he presides over a supremely-talented generation of players. It had been Aragones who cast off four decades of under-achievement in masterminding success at Euro 2008 – Spain's first major tournament triumph since winning the European Championship on home soil in 1964. Del Bosque inherited a specific playing style – the “tiki-taka" (short passing, movement and keeping possession) used to great effect by Barcelona – and a group of fabulous players who can fill a variety of roles a la total football as practiced by the Dutch in the 1970s. The coach's serious mien and calm persona appears to be bringing dividends, as is a touch of modesty. “We have been lucky to have such a marvellous generation of players, players who are genuinely good but also nice people, humble and selfless," he said last year, making sure that the men on the pitch take all the credit. Under Del Bosque Spain have become a true lean machine. He led Spain to 10 wins in 10 World Cup qualifiers and, after winning in South Africa, La Roja qualified for Euro 2012 with eight wins out of eight. Mutual respect means the players play for Del Bosque. He spent the majority of his playing career at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning five Liga titles and four Spanish Cups between 1974 and 1982. — AP
