SPAIN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING (2013)
SPAIN 1:1 FINLAND
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers: March 22, 2013
Spain struggled in this match because their style of
football, “tiki-taka,” although very dominant and even seemingly arrogant, is
just the opposite. This team is confident individually but very timid in their
attack as a unit, trying to play very precise, aesthetical football. They are
looking to achieve the goal through patience and technical ability, their skills
mainly to assist them in maintaining possession and carrying out the task at
hand. Spain spent approximately 90%, perhaps more, of the game in their
attacking half. Central backs Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique spent the majority
of their time defending at the halfway line, and did not have to take a touch
within their own penalty box until late into the second half. The Spaniards,
despite dominant possession just outside of the 18-yd box,
struggled to penetrate into the actual 18-yd box, a theme that was recurring
in Barcelona’s 2011-12 semifinal clash with Chelsea.
This point is applicable as a Chelsea man (Juan Mata) and Barcelona men (Andres
Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Cesc Fábregas, David Villa, Sergio Busquets,
etc.) all of whom competed for la Roja today, took part in that match. Barcelona
found themselves beaten unexpectedly off of a crazy clearance after the 9-man
in-box Chelsea defense chased after them just outside of Barça’s offensive 18-yd
box for the majority of the match. A lucky Chelsea clearance led to a one-on-one
with Javier Mascherano and keeper Victor Valdes that only needed to be kissed
in. Spain’s biggest weakness is their timidness to penetrate the final third.
Though the reigning world and European champions, Spain often finds
themselves in situations where they will play short-short-short tapping passes
with great link-ups and combinations and skills but they will not cross the
ball. Today, Alvaro Arbeloa was in such great position for Spain, far out wide,
hanging out in the right flank. However, Spain does not utilize the flank in
their style of play. This is a blessing and a curse because when there is simply
not timeto be as patient as they and to wait for a breaking point in a 10-man defense,
they must rely on the common method of achieving goals; finishing off of corners.
Spain’s failure to conform to this necessary football tactic is really hurting them.
I may be biased, so perhaps my opinion is not best, but the English-club players of today’s
match were phenomenal. Beginning with the creative, space-freeing Santi Cazorla in the first
half. Santi, like his counterparts David Silva and Juan Mata, plays his club football in England
where the game is more physical, box to box, fast-paced, and reliant on crosses from key
central midfield players. This same aspect is what makes Juan Mata and his teammates Eden
Hazard and Oscar such necessities for Chelsea. The English game revolves on these services
and the usage of the pitch’s width. When Juan Mata entered the game at the 75thminute,
I felt that the game was changed. Above all else I saw that if
I thought that Juan Mata played excellently at Chelsea,
him with the service and footskills of Iniesta and David Silva surrounding him
results in a most wonderful viewing experience. Participating in the “false 9”
contingent of the Spanish side today, Juan Mata brought the English game, the
basic and efficient game, to the pitch. His combinations with Andres Iniesta
were gorgeous and looked as if the two rehearsed them regularly, despite
less than a week of NT training prior to this match, as well as playing club in
two different countries and this only being Mata’s 3rd Spanish cap of the 2012-13 campaign.
Juan Mata is incredible at getting free, receiving the ball and then creating
dynamic movement off of it, his powerful left foot, skills, and service
to forwards. As Juan Mata went in and was able to receive the ball, he took
it wide and picked out either Negredo or Piqué on a number of occasions,
resulting in many aerial attempts, another of Spain’s weaknesses, aside from
Sergio Ramos, who celebrated his hundredth cap today with a marvelously-placed
header. Juan Mata’s crossing service and abilities when surrounded by good
support and playing a very offensive role made him extremely dangerous, for the
near 20 minutes that he participated in the match. The penetration to the
offensive final third that Spain got after Juan’s entrance was immediate and
fabulous.
JUAN MATA
until that point.
How will Spain fare against France on Tuesday?
I believe in a Spanish comeback because of their great
ability and their desire to be so precise. They will not be happy after the
robbing of two points from them, as Barça did not take very kindly to the 2-0
annihilation that they received from AC Milan, as they came back to win the tie
4-2 on aggregate, with a 4-0 second-leg victory.
What will Spain do to improve from now until Tuesday?
The Spanish side must analyze this game and refuse to
enter into it with the confidence of the World and European Champions. They must
enter this game knowing that France is beating them and that they need to fix
that. They must enter the game with a humility and respect of France as the
World Class team that they are. They must enter the game with a desire and
passion to win as if their entire lives depend on it. I have no doubt in them as
I saw firsthand that Barcelona could accomplish a similar feat against Milan,
and the majority of the Spanish side is from Barcelona, the other half of the
side coming from Real Madrid, the co-kings of Spain who recently gave their
compatriots Barça a double-whamming thrashing. They are obviously capable,
but Spain must score first and very frequently, especially against such a
France that boasts Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery, and Rahpael Varane. They need
to be able to analyze their game and their style of play in the coming days and
realize that threatening possession is not positive if the score-line doesn’t
show it. They must also tighten up their defense which I expect to be a weakness
for them on Tuesday as now, Jordi Alba is injured and will be left behind in
Spain as the side heads to Paris. Their defenders are individually strong, but
they must also not be swayed by the confidence/arrogance that the team has
offensively, as when they do this, they end up defending ahead of the halfway
line and find themselves caught off-guard in a fast [Finnish/Chelsea] break.
They Spain side should spread out, not pass as much but rather make purpose of
fewer, farther passes with an offensive intention at all times. Maintaining
possession will not cut it. They must be constantly looking to switch the field,
take advantage of its with, involve flank players, penetrate the final third,
and put in long balls and crosses to be finished. The French, especially with
Varane, are not simply going to open up their defense to allow for Spanish
passing and shooting combinations. This is not going to be a training session or
a scrimmage. They will be tight and reliable, the French, and Spain has to take
advantage of their skills and crossing to get balls to Negredo, Pedro, Fabregas,
and Villa up front to head or volley balls in.
For their next call up…
Spain should bring in Fernando Torres: IF they begin a more
universal style of play, by utilizing the crossing, Fernando Torres, an
experienced number 9 for Spain with adequate height and heading abilities, will
be crucial. His form at Chelsea has been slightly off, but his Spanish form has
been excelling: winning the Golden Boot in this past year’s European
Championship. He can offer Spain the defined No. 9 position that they
crave to win games as they should- with shutouts and large goal
differentials
Spain can only hope for the return of Iker Casillas for their
next call up. Although there is not a problem with Victor Valdes as goalkeeper,
especially with the time that he spends with the Barcelona lads, who comprise
the majority of the squad, Iker Casillas has more experience in the Spain shirt,
playing with the entire Spanish side, and is the most-capped Spanish player in
history. With a veteran of his ability in the net, that the entire
squad knows, trusts, respects, and has experience with, the Spain side may not
worry as much, not to say that they do, but he may direct them to the tighter
defense they are looking for
More English-based/Internationally-based Players: Juan Mata, David
Silva, and Santi Cazorla affected yesterday’s match in a very significant and
positive way. They bring to the team something that the other 90% cannot;
experience in countries outside of Spain. Not only is Spain’s style beginning to
get figured out, it is a bit outdated and cliché. They want the majority of
possession and they’ve got it. They want domination and they’ve got it.
They want players with individual ability and skill, and they’ve got it.
But they aren’t using any of these factors to their advantage.
Spain plays a false number nine system that isn’t guaranteed successful
because the entire team ends up playing as midfielders.
They all hover around that 18, no penetration to it, or the 6, because there is
no real target! Spain needs a defined forward, whom the midfielders can then
make it their aim to get the ball to at all times. The team needs an objective,
a player or two that they can rely on to get the ball in the net with the right
service, as opposed to a free for all. Football in other countries is much like
this, where midfielders send in crossesaimed for their players. It is
effective; Spain’s only goal yesterday came off of a cross from a corner kick!
As this is how other countries play, Spain will be matching their opponents
style and come out dominant due to their individual skill. Vincente Del Bosque
should consider giving more play time to Santi Cazorla and Juan Mata, up and
coming dominators of the English league for doing exactly these things mentioned
above.
Xavi & Xabi, playing more of a “creator” or “holding
midfielder role: Xabi Alonso and Xavi are necessary to give the Spain team a
connection between the defense and offense as well as a source for long balls
into the box and to wide players. They are also necessary in giving the team a
sense of definition in their positions, as it is clear they don't fit the mold of
attacking midfielders. The Spaniards would get a better idea on the pitch of
the defenders and their difference from the holdings, the attackers and the
strikers. This will give them a better idea of how their opponents play and
give them better spacial idea and awareness.
Finland held their own defensively, keeping 8-10 players within the 18
at all times. Their biggest credit was acknowledging Spain’s inability to
utilize wide players and using that to their advantage on the defensive; they
essentially had a man advantage, even if in their own 18, by not occupying
themselves with marking unused players. They kept 1 or 2 forwards prepared and
ready at all times for the counterattack that came in the 79th minute, in which they caught the Spanish
off-guard and played them excellently with quick, accurate long
passing. The finish by Pukki was clinical, a slip past Victor Valdes after his
compatriot who sent in the cross expertly broke down Pique and Sergio Ramos,
leaving Pukki exposed and left to be dealt with by an injured Jordi Alba who
arrived at the scene just a second too late.
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers: March 22, 2013
Spain struggled in this match because their style of
football, “tiki-taka,” although very dominant and even seemingly arrogant, is
just the opposite. This team is confident individually but very timid in their
attack as a unit, trying to play very precise, aesthetical football. They are
looking to achieve the goal through patience and technical ability, their skills
mainly to assist them in maintaining possession and carrying out the task at
hand. Spain spent approximately 90%, perhaps more, of the game in their
attacking half. Central backs Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique spent the majority
of their time defending at the halfway line, and did not have to take a touch
within their own penalty box until late into the second half. The Spaniards,
despite dominant possession just outside of the 18-yd box,
struggled to penetrate into the actual 18-yd box, a theme that was recurring
in Barcelona’s 2011-12 semifinal clash with Chelsea.
This point is applicable as a Chelsea man (Juan Mata) and Barcelona men (Andres
Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Cesc Fábregas, David Villa, Sergio Busquets,
etc.) all of whom competed for la Roja today, took part in that match. Barcelona
found themselves beaten unexpectedly off of a crazy clearance after the 9-man
in-box Chelsea defense chased after them just outside of Barça’s offensive 18-yd
box for the majority of the match. A lucky Chelsea clearance led to a one-on-one
with Javier Mascherano and keeper Victor Valdes that only needed to be kissed
in. Spain’s biggest weakness is their timidness to penetrate the final third.
Though the reigning world and European champions, Spain often finds
themselves in situations where they will play short-short-short tapping passes
with great link-ups and combinations and skills but they will not cross the
ball. Today, Alvaro Arbeloa was in such great position for Spain, far out wide,
hanging out in the right flank. However, Spain does not utilize the flank in
their style of play. This is a blessing and a curse because when there is simply
not timeto be as patient as they and to wait for a breaking point in a 10-man defense,
they must rely on the common method of achieving goals; finishing off of corners.
Spain’s failure to conform to this necessary football tactic is really hurting them.
I may be biased, so perhaps my opinion is not best, but the English-club players of today’s
match were phenomenal. Beginning with the creative, space-freeing Santi Cazorla in the first
half. Santi, like his counterparts David Silva and Juan Mata, plays his club football in England
where the game is more physical, box to box, fast-paced, and reliant on crosses from key
central midfield players. This same aspect is what makes Juan Mata and his teammates Eden
Hazard and Oscar such necessities for Chelsea. The English game revolves on these services
and the usage of the pitch’s width. When Juan Mata entered the game at the 75thminute,
I felt that the game was changed. Above all else I saw that if
I thought that Juan Mata played excellently at Chelsea,
him with the service and footskills of Iniesta and David Silva surrounding him
results in a most wonderful viewing experience. Participating in the “false 9”
contingent of the Spanish side today, Juan Mata brought the English game, the
basic and efficient game, to the pitch. His combinations with Andres Iniesta
were gorgeous and looked as if the two rehearsed them regularly, despite
less than a week of NT training prior to this match, as well as playing club in
two different countries and this only being Mata’s 3rd Spanish cap of the 2012-13 campaign.
Juan Mata is incredible at getting free, receiving the ball and then creating
dynamic movement off of it, his powerful left foot, skills, and service
to forwards. As Juan Mata went in and was able to receive the ball, he took
it wide and picked out either Negredo or Piqué on a number of occasions,
resulting in many aerial attempts, another of Spain’s weaknesses, aside from
Sergio Ramos, who celebrated his hundredth cap today with a marvelously-placed
header. Juan Mata’s crossing service and abilities when surrounded by good
support and playing a very offensive role made him extremely dangerous, for the
near 20 minutes that he participated in the match. The penetration to the
offensive final third that Spain got after Juan’s entrance was immediate and
fabulous.
JUAN MATA
- Excellent with more freedom; played very freely, flank to flank, striker or
- Crossing abilities; Juan practically introduced the most
until that point.
- Skilled and timely footwork
- Precise service
- Infuses the need for quick and, at that point of the game, desperate, pressure into the box
How will Spain fare against France on Tuesday?
I believe in a Spanish comeback because of their great
ability and their desire to be so precise. They will not be happy after the
robbing of two points from them, as Barça did not take very kindly to the 2-0
annihilation that they received from AC Milan, as they came back to win the tie
4-2 on aggregate, with a 4-0 second-leg victory.
What will Spain do to improve from now until Tuesday?
The Spanish side must analyze this game and refuse to
enter into it with the confidence of the World and European Champions. They must
enter this game knowing that France is beating them and that they need to fix
that. They must enter the game with a humility and respect of France as the
World Class team that they are. They must enter the game with a desire and
passion to win as if their entire lives depend on it. I have no doubt in them as
I saw firsthand that Barcelona could accomplish a similar feat against Milan,
and the majority of the Spanish side is from Barcelona, the other half of the
side coming from Real Madrid, the co-kings of Spain who recently gave their
compatriots Barça a double-whamming thrashing. They are obviously capable,
but Spain must score first and very frequently, especially against such a
France that boasts Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery, and Rahpael Varane. They need
to be able to analyze their game and their style of play in the coming days and
realize that threatening possession is not positive if the score-line doesn’t
show it. They must also tighten up their defense which I expect to be a weakness
for them on Tuesday as now, Jordi Alba is injured and will be left behind in
Spain as the side heads to Paris. Their defenders are individually strong, but
they must also not be swayed by the confidence/arrogance that the team has
offensively, as when they do this, they end up defending ahead of the halfway
line and find themselves caught off-guard in a fast [Finnish/Chelsea] break.
They Spain side should spread out, not pass as much but rather make purpose of
fewer, farther passes with an offensive intention at all times. Maintaining
possession will not cut it. They must be constantly looking to switch the field,
take advantage of its with, involve flank players, penetrate the final third,
and put in long balls and crosses to be finished. The French, especially with
Varane, are not simply going to open up their defense to allow for Spanish
passing and shooting combinations. This is not going to be a training session or
a scrimmage. They will be tight and reliable, the French, and Spain has to take
advantage of their skills and crossing to get balls to Negredo, Pedro, Fabregas,
and Villa up front to head or volley balls in.
For their next call up…
Spain should bring in Fernando Torres: IF they begin a more
universal style of play, by utilizing the crossing, Fernando Torres, an
experienced number 9 for Spain with adequate height and heading abilities, will
be crucial. His form at Chelsea has been slightly off, but his Spanish form has
been excelling: winning the Golden Boot in this past year’s European
Championship. He can offer Spain the defined No. 9 position that they
crave to win games as they should- with shutouts and large goal
differentials
Spain can only hope for the return of Iker Casillas for their
next call up. Although there is not a problem with Victor Valdes as goalkeeper,
especially with the time that he spends with the Barcelona lads, who comprise
the majority of the squad, Iker Casillas has more experience in the Spain shirt,
playing with the entire Spanish side, and is the most-capped Spanish player in
history. With a veteran of his ability in the net, that the entire
squad knows, trusts, respects, and has experience with, the Spain side may not
worry as much, not to say that they do, but he may direct them to the tighter
defense they are looking for
More English-based/Internationally-based Players: Juan Mata, David
Silva, and Santi Cazorla affected yesterday’s match in a very significant and
positive way. They bring to the team something that the other 90% cannot;
experience in countries outside of Spain. Not only is Spain’s style beginning to
get figured out, it is a bit outdated and cliché. They want the majority of
possession and they’ve got it. They want domination and they’ve got it.
They want players with individual ability and skill, and they’ve got it.
But they aren’t using any of these factors to their advantage.
Spain plays a false number nine system that isn’t guaranteed successful
because the entire team ends up playing as midfielders.
They all hover around that 18, no penetration to it, or the 6, because there is
no real target! Spain needs a defined forward, whom the midfielders can then
make it their aim to get the ball to at all times. The team needs an objective,
a player or two that they can rely on to get the ball in the net with the right
service, as opposed to a free for all. Football in other countries is much like
this, where midfielders send in crossesaimed for their players. It is
effective; Spain’s only goal yesterday came off of a cross from a corner kick!
As this is how other countries play, Spain will be matching their opponents
style and come out dominant due to their individual skill. Vincente Del Bosque
should consider giving more play time to Santi Cazorla and Juan Mata, up and
coming dominators of the English league for doing exactly these things mentioned
above.
Xavi & Xabi, playing more of a “creator” or “holding
midfielder role: Xabi Alonso and Xavi are necessary to give the Spain team a
connection between the defense and offense as well as a source for long balls
into the box and to wide players. They are also necessary in giving the team a
sense of definition in their positions, as it is clear they don't fit the mold of
attacking midfielders. The Spaniards would get a better idea on the pitch of
the defenders and their difference from the holdings, the attackers and the
strikers. This will give them a better idea of how their opponents play and
give them better spacial idea and awareness.
Finland held their own defensively, keeping 8-10 players within the 18
at all times. Their biggest credit was acknowledging Spain’s inability to
utilize wide players and using that to their advantage on the defensive; they
essentially had a man advantage, even if in their own 18, by not occupying
themselves with marking unused players. They kept 1 or 2 forwards prepared and
ready at all times for the counterattack that came in the 79th minute, in which they caught the Spanish
off-guard and played them excellently with quick, accurate long
passing. The finish by Pukki was clinical, a slip past Victor Valdes after his
compatriot who sent in the cross expertly broke down Pique and Sergio Ramos,
leaving Pukki exposed and left to be dealt with by an injured Jordi Alba who
arrived at the scene just a second too late.
SPAIN 1:0 FRANCE
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, March 26, 2013
I suggested in my last entry about the Spanish that perhaps the tiki-taka era
that has gotten this team so far in the past few years since winning Euro 2008,
World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012, is coming to an end. I believe that the tiki-taka
has either been figured out, is simply just not as sharp as it used to be, or is
merely outdated in today’s international football. Whatever it is, it isn’t
working, and for the first time in roughly five or six years, Spain are
struggling.
Today, the goal of the Spanish side was to head into this match with respect for the
marvelous French side they were going to face, with a boatload of eccentric
English-club players, and an entirely different, long-ball and
crossing-finishing-based game.
However, this did not quite go as I hoped.
To start, Del Bosque actually decreased the amount of English-club players in the
starting lineup; from last game’s two to this game’s… zero. Well actually, he did
include Monreal of Arsenal, but only as a backup for the injured Jordi Alba. Del
Bosque [consciously] benched Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla, and David Silva and I still
cannot bring myself to fathom a single reason why.
In Spain’s attempt to stray from the tiki-taka and adopt the long-ball
game, they got very sloppy and lost their accuracy and coolness on the ball,
which hurt them greatly. It’s not their fault; with a side comprised of only
Real Madrid and Barcelona players, it was clearly going to be hard to move away
fro the beloved possession-oriented game, even if only for a little while. The Barcelona contigent uses it on a
weekly basis in Liga. The Real contingent, which is significantly
outnumbered by the Barca members in the squad, do not quite play the style as
strictly outside of national duties. The French side created far more chances
and maintained the majority of possession throughout the game in my opinon. They
looked incredibly threatening, and it is a pity that Pedro’s luck around the
60-minute mark is what robbed them of any points. The French side was
a better team, this match. Do not let the FIFA ranking of 17th place fool you.
Alas, Spain did manage the win, and Del Bosque must have heard my crying pleas through
the television set to enter Juan Mata into the game, no matter how much time was left in the match.
Just something about him on the pitch creates a magical effect, in my opinion.
The tiny Spanish magic man entered the game with about 40 seconds to go (really
Vincente? Really?!) and I am not even sure if he managed to get a touch on the
ball, though he sure as heck tried. It bothers me to know that Juan Mata has the
most season assists in Europe and an astonishing goal tally as well,
especially for not being a striker (18), and is struggling to break into the Spanish starting-11.
18 goals is the top amount of club goals for the Spanish side currently, yet my man sat on
the bench for over 90 minutes, with his English-based compatriots. I just do not get it.
Why would you not put him on the pitch?! The opportunities he creates, the goals and assists he is
capable of…! *sigh*
Spain’s newest problem, aside from not being very good at straying from their beloved
tiki-taka, is simply their inability to be open-minded. The players of the
Spanish national team do not change. These are the same guys I was watching in
the World Cup three years ago. Iniesta, Xavi, Piqué, Ramos… I do not have a
problem with these men I have just named, as they are the heart and soul of this
Spanish team, honestly. But as I see with other nations, who are bringing in new
players and nurturing them to become part of the squad and evolve the team…
Spain is doing the opposite. Even with good results and statistics and
reliability and positive impact, Del Bosque refuses to bring in up and coming
Spanish stars like Isco, Michu, Juan Mata, Cesar Azpilicueta… who really should
be the present and future of this team.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Franck Ribery
His first touches. His one-on-ones. His movement off of the ball, his combinations,
his spacing. *sigh* All was going well for the Bayern midfielder today, and he
was clearly the dominator of the match, for both sides. Simply incredible.
Controversial red?
Pogba was handed two yellow cards within a minute tonight at the Stade de France,
dejecting a primarily dominant French side who was forced to end their stellar
match with only 10 men. Honestly, Pogba’s first booking, his dangerous play
(high boot) on Xabi Alonso was entirely justifiable. However with the second
card, it was as if the ref was just looking to get him off of the field. He and
Xavi both went for a ball and [clearly] accidentally, Pogba stepped on Xavi’s
foot in the process of reching for the ball. Completely and utterly
unintentional. Honestly, I believe the official was just frustrated with the player’s
frequent fouling and complaints earlier on in the match and was looking for a reason to send him
off.
UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, March 26, 2013
I suggested in my last entry about the Spanish that perhaps the tiki-taka era
that has gotten this team so far in the past few years since winning Euro 2008,
World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012, is coming to an end. I believe that the tiki-taka
has either been figured out, is simply just not as sharp as it used to be, or is
merely outdated in today’s international football. Whatever it is, it isn’t
working, and for the first time in roughly five or six years, Spain are
struggling.
Today, the goal of the Spanish side was to head into this match with respect for the
marvelous French side they were going to face, with a boatload of eccentric
English-club players, and an entirely different, long-ball and
crossing-finishing-based game.
However, this did not quite go as I hoped.
To start, Del Bosque actually decreased the amount of English-club players in the
starting lineup; from last game’s two to this game’s… zero. Well actually, he did
include Monreal of Arsenal, but only as a backup for the injured Jordi Alba. Del
Bosque [consciously] benched Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla, and David Silva and I still
cannot bring myself to fathom a single reason why.
In Spain’s attempt to stray from the tiki-taka and adopt the long-ball
game, they got very sloppy and lost their accuracy and coolness on the ball,
which hurt them greatly. It’s not their fault; with a side comprised of only
Real Madrid and Barcelona players, it was clearly going to be hard to move away
fro the beloved possession-oriented game, even if only for a little while. The Barcelona contigent uses it on a
weekly basis in Liga. The Real contingent, which is significantly
outnumbered by the Barca members in the squad, do not quite play the style as
strictly outside of national duties. The French side created far more chances
and maintained the majority of possession throughout the game in my opinon. They
looked incredibly threatening, and it is a pity that Pedro’s luck around the
60-minute mark is what robbed them of any points. The French side was
a better team, this match. Do not let the FIFA ranking of 17th place fool you.
Alas, Spain did manage the win, and Del Bosque must have heard my crying pleas through
the television set to enter Juan Mata into the game, no matter how much time was left in the match.
Just something about him on the pitch creates a magical effect, in my opinion.
The tiny Spanish magic man entered the game with about 40 seconds to go (really
Vincente? Really?!) and I am not even sure if he managed to get a touch on the
ball, though he sure as heck tried. It bothers me to know that Juan Mata has the
most season assists in Europe and an astonishing goal tally as well,
especially for not being a striker (18), and is struggling to break into the Spanish starting-11.
18 goals is the top amount of club goals for the Spanish side currently, yet my man sat on
the bench for over 90 minutes, with his English-based compatriots. I just do not get it.
Why would you not put him on the pitch?! The opportunities he creates, the goals and assists he is
capable of…! *sigh*
Spain’s newest problem, aside from not being very good at straying from their beloved
tiki-taka, is simply their inability to be open-minded. The players of the
Spanish national team do not change. These are the same guys I was watching in
the World Cup three years ago. Iniesta, Xavi, Piqué, Ramos… I do not have a
problem with these men I have just named, as they are the heart and soul of this
Spanish team, honestly. But as I see with other nations, who are bringing in new
players and nurturing them to become part of the squad and evolve the team…
Spain is doing the opposite. Even with good results and statistics and
reliability and positive impact, Del Bosque refuses to bring in up and coming
Spanish stars like Isco, Michu, Juan Mata, Cesar Azpilicueta… who really should
be the present and future of this team.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Franck Ribery
His first touches. His one-on-ones. His movement off of the ball, his combinations,
his spacing. *sigh* All was going well for the Bayern midfielder today, and he
was clearly the dominator of the match, for both sides. Simply incredible.
Controversial red?
Pogba was handed two yellow cards within a minute tonight at the Stade de France,
dejecting a primarily dominant French side who was forced to end their stellar
match with only 10 men. Honestly, Pogba’s first booking, his dangerous play
(high boot) on Xabi Alonso was entirely justifiable. However with the second
card, it was as if the ref was just looking to get him off of the field. He and
Xavi both went for a ball and [clearly] accidentally, Pogba stepped on Xavi’s
foot in the process of reching for the ball. Completely and utterly
unintentional. Honestly, I believe the official was just frustrated with the player’s
frequent fouling and complaints earlier on in the match and was looking for a reason to send him
off.