Still the rhapsodies play on for Spain, still the TV analysts drool like children in a toy shop. It is a beautiful ideal, of course, technical brilliance applied to the task of passing all opposition into a daze as they move towards the unprecedented goal of three successive major championship titles.
Of course, La Roja still play on the side of the angels, still show us fabulous accomplishment as one crescendo of tiki-taka follows another. But then there also has to be a growing sense that if Spain are on the point of making history, it is with a game turning in on itself, one that increasingly looks as if it is celebrating an aspect of the game - relentless possession and passing - for its own sake.
The statistics here, as they did in the World Cup two years ago, continue to show a huge imbalance between Spain's control of the ball and their ability to inflict killing damage.
Against a profoundly disappointing France on Sunday, Spain required a late penalty from Xabi Alonso to wipe away the possibility of some late eruption. It was even more perilous against Italy in a 1-1 draw, and Croatia set many problems as they threatened the Spanish route to the quarter-finals. Only outclassed Ireland felt a touch of matador steel.
Now Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has to worry about the potential of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo in Thursday's semifinal. Most of all, though, he has to be concerned about the German juggernaut which cuffed aside Greece in their quarter-final, despite key players being rested.
