Botía explains keys to Spanish success

The good times keep rolling for Spanish football. With the European and world titles under the belt of the senior national team and the UEFA Champions League in the Camp Nou trophy cabinet, Luis Milla's Spain Under-21 side are now just one step away from bringing home another prize.

With their ability to keep the ball and control possession and the scoring touch of the five-goal Adrián López, Milla's men will start Saturday's UEFA European U21 Championship final against Switzerland as slight favourites and their Real Sporting de Gijón centre-back Alberto Botía – an ever present here in Denmark –has reflected on the qualities that could make them champions:

Defence
Our defence has conceded only two goals. It's very quick, very solid and right now playing with a lot of confidence. We're doing a great job, but that is also down to the pressing the team does higher up the pitch. The forwards and midfielders help make our job easier, in the same way that the full-backs are an important attacking weapon.

Midfield
We're a team that likes to pass the ball around a lot and build up the play. Players like Thiago Alcántara and Juan Mata are key to our build-up play and then there's Javi Martínez who is capable of doing a bit of everything. This part of the team is the engine because this is where our football emerges from.

Attack
These are the players who decide matches – the results don't come without their goals and this is where Adrián López warrants praise. At first there were people doubting him and criticising him but we believed in him and knew that the goals would come. He is proving he's a great striker. As well as him we've got a lot of width on the flanks and players with great movement.