Milla sees the big picture for Spain's Under-21s

While Spain's senior team added the FIFA World Cup to their UEFA EURO 2008 title last year, the country's Under-21 side have not been crowned European champions since 1998.

They get another chance to end that wait in Denmark this summer when they face England, Ukraine and the Czech Republic in Group B. Yet although success tends to breed success, and U21 coach Luis Milla is keen to triumph, he says his players' longer-term development is what matters most.

"The fruit of that labour [at youth level] in the end was the European title and the world championship," he told UEFA.com. "I think 85 or 90% of the players who became champions played at youth level too. They know what it means to compete. They are used to a certain model, a way of playing, that is very similar at all age levels, and they've grown in that system. So they understand the game in a very similar way, and we focus very much on that."

Midfielders Javi Martínez and Juan Mata were part of last summer's squad in South Africa but are likely to revert to U21 duty in Denmark. "Their effect on the team has been very positive," said Milla, the 45-year-old former FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF and Valencia CF player. "Above all, for their attitude and the example they give. They have come with a lot of desire and a lot of humility, which is very important because they are world champions. They are an example to their team-mates."