"Can I Give You My Word As A Spaniard?" "I've Known Too Many Spaniards."
by SamFels on Jul 9, 2010 8:21 PM PDT
3 comments
Before I foolishly attempt to preview the final on Sunday, a few words on the occasion itself. I always feel I never make a big enough day out of it. But then again, I've never had a team to be emotionally involved with in the final, and every likely may never. I guess that's why I put so much into that Confederations Cup Final, it may be as close as some of us ever get. I think it's almost impossible to grasp the enormity of Sunday. It only happens once every four years, and what other event do you know, other than maybe world disasters, that a majority of the world is watching right along with you? We Yanks always use the Moon Landing or the like, but a bigger audience comes together every four years. I can't imagine what's it's like to be at that game, to know you're where 6 billion people would like to be. As for playing in it? Well, obviously the size of the occasion affects the actual game. How could it not? There's no experience level, other than having played in this final previously which none of these players ever have, that could possibly prepare you for it. Maybe after the first 20 minutes, nerves settle. But after an opening goal? To know you've taken a huge step toward a goal that only what, 60-80 men on Earth per generation ever get to experience? The nerves start all over again. I think that makes a final so hard to predict, because neither of these teams likely is going to play their game exactly.
But we'll do our best. The fact that Spain get it down and knock it around, maybe they'll settle that much quicker. Everyone on the field in red (or dark blue, I don't know who's technically home for this) will touch the ball within the first minute or close to it. Maybe that helps, maybe it doesn't. What I do know is that with Van Bommel and De Jong snapping around the midfield, Xavi, Alonso, and Iniesta are not going to have it all their own way. However, it's an act of God that Van Bommel hasn't been sent off at least twice in this tournament, and Howard Webb can get a little card happy at times. An early caution could tamper down Van Bommel's game. If he doesn't get one, then Spain could have real problems. This may be one reason we're hearing some buzz about David Silva cracking the lineup, as he would allow Spain to have more possession out wide where the Dutch butchers can't be snapping femurs.
If the Spanish do break through the midfield, they won't find as challenging a backline in orange as they did in German white. The Dutch defense has at times looked paceless and oafish, and if they can present Villa with some space he's going to score. I just can't see a way that Holland keeps a clean sheet here. Even if they're held out, that means the cavalry comprising some combo of Torres, Silva, Mata, Navas, and Llorente is coming. The Dutch really only have Elija as a weapon off the bench. Klaas-Huntelaar isn't quite a donkey, but I think he can see it from where he is.
Though people love to lavish praise on the Spanish defense, probably because they're funny-looking, I'm not sure they're rock solid either. They managed to give up a goal to the Swiss, which no one else could figure out how to. They gave away a penalty and a couple scoring chances to Paraguay who weren't even looking for those. Van Persie's pace will give Puyol and Pique problems. Robben is a threat no matter what side he's coming from, especially if he's invading the space that Sergio Ramos has vacated. And you never know when Ramos is going to have a total brainfart, just ask Clint Dempsey. The problem is the Spanish only give you about five chances a game, and if you need to score at least two to win that's an awfully high batting average. They were able to take Oezil completely out of it and while Sneijder is a superior player, he's not that effective if he doesn't have the ball.
It's hard to know what to make of the Dutch. They haven't looked awesome in any match. When they faced their toughest opponent, Brazil folded and curled up like a little girl begging to be taken to the toy store to buy a new doll. Now, the Dutch did that to them, so there is credit due. But they made awfully heavy weather of a pretty severely hampered Uruguay side, and conceded twice. This is a whole new animal.
You could say the same things about Spain, but it's not entirely accurate. All three of their knockout opponents were heavily organized, disciplined sides set out to make the games look as they did. And Spain found a way every time. I doubt the Dutch can go about it the same way, and giving Spain more space is just simply a bad idea. So either the Dutch go against their strength and be more defensive than usual, or they go about it as they have done and risk getting tonked.
At its elemental level, Spain simply have too much. If Van Bommel and/or De Jong are hampered by cautions, the midfield of La Roja will find a rhythm. If one of them gets sent off it's over. Sure, Ciambiasso and crew were able to quiet Iniesta and Xavi with Inter. But Barca didn't have Xabi Alonso to boot, who plays too deep to get after too hard, lest you leave space behind. Villa's too sparkling, the defense too solid-enough, the bench too loaded.
Spain 3-1. Paella for everyone.
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I have 3 words for you ;-)
Viva La Roja!
Goooooooooooooooool!
hehe ok maybe more than 3 .
I hope Spain DOMINATES and wraps it up within 90 minutes.
I'm also thinking team USA needs to study how Spain has built their Soccer empire
this article that is/was linked on the right
http://www.sbnation.com/2010/7/9/1561079/world-cup-2010-final-spain-preview-history-disappointment
has alot of valuable insights on how Spain got out of the stage of 16 knockout stage a number of years back. I find it and interesting coincidence that Spain’s standings improved with a change of captain of the team to Casillas. FASCINATING!
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas, another Real Madrid legend, now captains the team, shepperding Spain through a 35-match unbeaten run that started a few months after Raúl was left-out of the team. Whether the difference was attributable to Raúl, Spain had previously been known as a collection of individual talents, whereas now they’re merely known as talented.
another fascinating quotation from this other article
While his tactics have not elicited results commensurate with the team’s talent (riding three straight 1-0 victories through the knockout stage), del Bosque has maintained the one facet of Spanish fútbol that has become synonymous with their current ascendancy: a composed dominance of the ball, morphing into a furious quest to regain it the few times the ball’s lost.
Spanish soccer journalist Guillem Balague, speaking with the BBC after Spain’s win over Germany, may have best explained the current state of Spanish football:
“Three years ago, we decided to keep the ball, and nobody’s taken it off us. It’s just a different way of playing, one that’s wonderful to everybody. I think the neutrals have enjoyed it.
“(The style) comes not from thinking that we’re superior to the rest (of the world). In fact, it comes from thinking, `We can not compete physically with the rest. What can we do well? We’ll keep that ball.’
“And we’ve learned to also compete.”
Balague’s emotions then overcame him.
“Sorry, I think you’ve got the child, not the journalist here. It’s been all our lives, hoping for a moment like this.”
On Sunday, Spain will be favored to win their first world title, cementing the moment for which Balague’s nation has been waiting. Should they fail to do, Spain will leave South Africa having already provided their supporters with a historic achievement. Should they raise the World Cup, La Roja will take their rightful place amongst the soccer world’s other traditional powers.
That article is a really good read if any of y’all haven’t made time to read it yet.
Haven’t the Dutch been defensive the entire tourny already? I don’t think it will change, they have been a very cautious team ever since Van Marwijk took over the manager’s job.
It’s hard to use the Swiss goal as an example of weak defending vs the Spainish. That was the biggest fluke goal of the tourny in my opinion.
I really do think Spain’s defense is as solid as people say. Sure the give a couple of chances a game, but they force their opponents to chase for 70% of the game, exhaust them out, and then rely on the percentages that they will score more based on ball retention and more chances to score.
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