When Spain went 1-0 up vs Chile they played like this in the last ten minutes - Chile were down to 10 men and they were running down the clock. It's better then feigning an injury to run down the clock. Other then that game I cant see what your on about. I said it before, Spain clearly created more opportunities than all the teams they came up against - you dont create those opportunities by passing it around the defense.

Afro - I think you were just frustrated that Spain tried to walk the ball across the line (as was I!). But their lead up to attack was better than any other team. Games with limited goals are boring - but you cant say the way they played was boring. Their one touch passing game has to be admired because it's so hard to do.

No12 is right - Spain came out on the front foot against Holland and then it changed once they got dirty.

If Ramos scored from the header earley in the final the game would have taken differnt path. Brazil scored earley v Holland and for a while Holland looked burried and then they come back. Spain was so dominant esspecially in the first 15min of the final that Hollands only option was to kick them of the park even Van Persie was lucky not to earn a red and then Van Bomel and worst of them all karate kick on Alonso.
Spain had an edge above Brazil for me at this WC,they went up 1:0 and managed to keep Holland scorless.
One interesting statistic is that Brazil never had to come back from behind to win a game,Germans could not do it against Serbia, Spain could not do it V Swiss and Holland managed to do it v Brazil.

Well given that their possession was courtesy of Puyol passing to Busquets passing to Pique passing to Ramos passing to Puyol passing to Captevilla passing to Busquets...I'd say that's pretty boring.

as I said, their forward line struggled. Doesn't make them boring, makes them frustrating. Goals = excitement.

Could have been 6-0 if Navas hadn't missed a chance, Villa missed an open net, Villa hadn't missed a penalty and Torres' first touch had been better.

They didnt stuggle against Hounduras, their forward line struggled. Could have been 3-0 if Villa scored the penalty.

To be fair on the Germans and put the shoe on the other foot, if Spain had been Missing Villa they'd probably have won.

The fact that they couldn't convert their changes says simply that their strikers and wingers weren't up to the task.

Chances on goal don't win games, getting the ball in the back of the net does and while spain did that they didn't do it well and you can't say that having more chances is a defence for their failures to consistently put the ball in the back of the net. As I said, they struggled against Honduras!

The fact that they couldn't convert the shots on goal into actual goals was frustrating. Everything else considering the tactics they face was superb. Stats don't lie.

If Germany were THAT good they would have won. Again despite the low scoreline Spain dominated the stats.

That's bullshit. If spain were THAT good a team, they wouldn't have let other teams dictate how they could or couldn't play. If they were THAT good, they'd have been able to go out and control the ball and find a way through more than once a game. The fact is their midfield didn't link with their forwards and they spent most games trying to run the ball across the goal line rather than dictating terms, even against teams that they were meant to be vastly superior too.

I found it quite ironic that it was Robben of all players who stayed up through a foul that could have earned a red card. Which in turn got himself a yellow when he complained to the ref for not noticing it.

The most entertaining and watchable team DID NOT win The World Cup... From my point of view (and due to illness I saw every game bar 2) this was the Germans.

BUT, Spain did do what they needed to and for that I congratulate them.

It's funny you say that because before '06 The Netherlands were always my second team after Spain of-coarse. I had a soft spot for them for this reason. But having some Spanish blood overrides that. :lol:

I cant see how Spain played frustrating...the play leading up to goal was precision just the execution was frustrating. I think if Torres was in form and Villa played in from the left Spain would have been a lot more exiting in front of goal. But they done well with what they had. IMO the Euro tournament Spain were a lot more dominant.

The only frustration I can see is with Spain's opponents because they cant control the game. Theiry Henry said a funny quote in an interview after Spain beat France (2-0) I think in a friendly, "How are you suppose to beat a team that you cant get the ball off". :lol:

Well heart was saying Spain but from a purely footballing pov I didn't reslly mind who won since it would be a new winner.

Just was frustrated with the way Spain played because of the lack of goals much the way Arsenal frustrate me :lol: I guess it's because I want them both to have this swashbuckling passing style and the goals to boot that when one goes missing I hate to watch but seem to not be able to stop watching:lol:

So WTF who were you supporting? :shock:

Edited by leftrightout: 13/7/2010 02:55:25 PM

This is the funniest thing about my supposed Spain bashing:lol: I'm half Spanish as well. My mother was born in Santander:lol:

General, my mother was born Cordoba, Spain my other half is Maltese and lets face it...Malta are never going to set the world alight. Seeing that I am Australian first and foremost I will always support the Socceroo's, even against Spain but once that ship has sunk I am one-eyed Spanish all the way. So anything you say I will disagree with it's called basking in the glory...especially when you have so many Italian and Greek mates.

Spain dealt with the Netherland's tactics better than Brazil - Brazil lost their heads sadly and we missed what would have been a much better final. But we are talking what ifs here :(

Brazil lacked discipline which was their undoing against the Dutch. To say they would have had Spain's measure is a bit rich - but it would have made for a lot more entertaining final, seeing two teams that like to control the space.

Edited by leftrightout: 13/7/2010 01:36:20 PM

I am pretty sure that Brazil would have had Spains measure. They were a brilliant (even if Brazilian's can't see it) mix of defensive nouse and attacking flair, if they hadn't stuffed it against the Netherlands they would be the ones holding up the World Cup once again.

Afro - Spain would have been better to watch if teams didn't play so defensive against them. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work that one out. You just have to watch Spain demolishing of Hungray in the pre-tournament warm up to see what happens when you give Spain too much space. What type of tactics do you play against Spain? Ultra defensive high pressure counter attacks.

Bottom line: spain disappointed. They won, yes. Congratulations. But they were far from the best team in the tournament and I'd say the only team that was more boring to watch than Spain was England.

What pisses me off the most though, is people like Ned Zelic and Craig Foster saying "We" when referring to Spain. You're about as fucking spanish as Haggis. JUST SHUT UP!

True the 3rd/4ht play off is almost always a lively and entertaining game.

There was diving and feigning injury by EVERY team in this tournament.
Just check out the Rivaldo awards on Santo, Sam & Eds
cup fever show. Van Bommel, Robben, Chile, Argentia, Brasil, Italy...... North Korea weren't featured - but they torpedo South Korean ships instead!

Fact is that the 22 guys out there get paid shit-loads of money and they'll use any means to get opposing players carded and thus give their team an advantage.
It's the WC FFS! Both teams are going to do everything in their power to stop the other team gaining advantage. Cup Finals are always low scoring cagey affairs, if you want a snappy game only, watch the losers play for third & fourth!

Spain did deserve to win the final, I think this is being missed here. No one is saying they did not deserve to win the final - they are saying that they played a boring brand of football to get there. The Netherlands played a cynical brand of football to get there. The only team that reached the pointy end of the comp playing positive attacking football that was a pleasure to watch (even though they smashed us 4-0) was Germany.

and many more such as chile

+1 =d>

I think Spain are deserving champions. Whether there have been more entertaining teams or not is irrelevant. Do people really expect to see 32 teams rock up and play like Germany? You can only play as good as the opposition lets you. Spain managed to win 6 straight matches when it counted, despite the often negative tactics used against them.

Admittedly a few Spanish players have been nowhere near their best at this WC, but this shows that the tactics they use can be successful even if the team's best players aren't on fire.

Funnily enough it may make him not want to move. Seeing he can't get a start ahead of Iniesta Xavi and Bicuits for Spain might make him see it would be a mistake going to Barca which it would be.



No it won't

I feel sorry for Holland as I wanted them to win it!!
GO HOLLAND!!!

That may change very soon.