In the National Football League they say offense wins games, defense wins championships. The spelling and terminology may be slightly different, but it is a similar story when it comes to the World Cup and European Championship.
A team could play outstanding attacking football in the group stage, but when it comes to the business end of major finals it is the defense, the ability to shut out the opposition that decides the winner.
Spain won Euro 2012, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2008 without conceding a single goal in its 10 sudden-death games.