Though they ended the tournament with a runners-up medal, the UEFA Nations League finals confirmed without a doubt that this is the era of Baby Spain." Recite the names Gavi, Pedri, Yeremi, Ansu and Ferran, and they may sound like JRR Tolkein characters to accompany Frodo or Bilbo with sword, loyalty and cynical good humour; in reality, they don't mine for precious stones. They are the diamonds.
But each of these prodigies -- the youngest just turned 17, the eldest only 21 -- will do extremely well if, by the time they turn 24, they've achieved for club and country as much as "elder statesman" Mikel "Bigfoot" Oyarzabal has.