Latin Americans play with the ball like it is an extension of their body, like it is a supporting player on the pitch. Europeans play with the ball like it is secondary to their organization, positioning, and athleticism.

I don’t know how else to describe the relationship Latin Americans have with the ball other than that.

The ball is a burden to Europeans. There is this sense that if the ball weren’t there, they could get so much more done.

They have a different respect for the football. They interact with it differently.

The ball doesn’t feel like a foreign object on the grass.

The ball is not the main character; it still plays a supporting role in the match, but the players feel more connected to the environment around them: their teammates, the crowd, the grass, the ball.

This way of playing translates better to all climates: hot, cold, mild, wet, dry.

Europeans need to arrive into space, and Latin Americans need to connect. Europeans control the ball, and Latin Americans share the ball.

Space is a byproduct of the relationships between the players, not the positions of the players.

Latin Americans have a more natural relationship with the ball that Europeans will never get to experience because of the way they are coached from a young age.