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Post by narko on Jul 2, 2012 7:42:28 GMT 8
What a surprise right. Spain once again have the smallest players in the tournament and convincingly win with their tiki-taka. Spain once again showed the importance of role-based play over formation-based tactics. Dunno how Del Bosque gives the team the drive to keep winning as well as keeping the Barcelona and Real Madrid players together.... Yes, and one of those small players scored the first goal with a header. Imagine that! Worthy winners Spain, thoroughly deserved and it looks like they'll be more victories for them up ahead. They are miles ahead of everyone at this time. As for keeping the Barcelona-Madrid players together, it wasn't only Del Bosque who is very good dealing with players (he handled all those galactic egos successfully during his spell at Real Madrid) but Iker Casillas as well played a big role in fostering squad harmony and unity. One of the spats between Mourinho and Iker was when Iker took the initiative to call Xavi and Puyol to mend fences after those contentious and heated clasicos. Mourinho didn't like that, but Iker as captain of Spain had a responsibility as well to their national team. San Iker, Real Madrid and Spain legend - Spain make the historic achievement of winning 3 consecutive major tournaments, and San Iker was their captain in all three victories.
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Post by fadzki on Jul 2, 2012 13:27:58 GMT 8
What a surprise right. Spain once again have the smallest players in the tournament and convincingly win with their tiki-taka. Spain once again showed the importance of role-based play over formation-based tactics. Dunno how Del Bosque gives the team the drive to keep winning as well as keeping the Barcelona and Real Madrid players together.... Yes, and one of those small players scored the first goal with a header. Imagine that! Worthy winners Spain, thoroughly deserved and it looks like they'll be more victories for them up ahead. They are miles ahead of everyone at this time. As for keeping the Barcelona-Madrid players together, it wasn't only Del Bosque who is very good dealing with players (he handled all those galactic egos successfully during his spell at Real Madrid) but Iker Casillas as well played a big role in fostering squad harmony and unity. One of the spats between Mourinho and Iker was when Iker took the initiative to call Xavi and Puyol to mend fences after those contentious and heated clasicos. Mourinho didn't like that, but Iker as captain of Spain had a responsibility as well to their national team. San Iker, Real Madrid and Spain legend - Spain make the historic achievement of winning 3 consecutive major tournaments, and San Iker was their captain in all three victories. Yeah... Mr. Iker Casillas AKA "mr. bathroom" is one the great Gk's ever....
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Post by stellarboy on Jul 4, 2012 15:25:54 GMT 8
Iker Casillas: Ref! Respect for the Rival! Respect for Italia!
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Post by butchok on Jul 5, 2012 7:56:14 GMT 8
Will this Spanish Renaissance in world football lasts? I think it's just the beginning. Remember some of the key players of this successful La Roja side are still young as more than half of them aged 26 and under. In two years time comes 2014 World Cup in Rio these players will be still on their peak. Moreover, they are also the reigning European under 21 and under 19 champions which provides them a large pool of young upcoming talents like Muniain, Sarabia, Morata and others who can be poached in. That's aside from the wisdom of tiki-taka tactics that they will get from older players like Iniesta and Xavi.
So what's in store on 2014 World Cup? I believe as early as now Spain have the tools to win four major tournaments in a row. (2008 Euro, 2010 World Cup, 2012 Euro and 2014 World Cup). . .
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Post by veryfatchocobo on Jul 5, 2012 13:50:13 GMT 8
Will this Spanish Renaissance in world football lasts? I think it's just the beginning. Remember some of the key players of this successful La Roja side are still young as more than half of them aged 26 and under. In two years time comes 2014 World Cup in Rio these players will be still on their peak. Moreover, they are also the reigning European under 21 and under 19 champions which provides them a large pool of young upcoming talents like Muniain, Sarabia, Morata and others who can be poached in. That's aside from the wisdom of tiki-taka tactics that they will get from older players like Iniesta and Xavi. So what's in store on 2014 World Cup? I believe as early as now Spain have the tools to win four major tournaments in a row. (2008 Euro, 2010 World Cup, 2012 Euro and 2014 World Cup). . . IMO, they peaked after the WC and have been on the decline since Barcelona's latest CL title. Barcelona is the core of the team. They haven't been firing at all cylinders until the Italy final due to winning way too many titles under Guardiola: 2 CLs, 4 Leagues, 2 CWCs, Copa del Reys, (and the Euros + WC '10). I was surprised they won the Euros because the Barcelona players haven't been firing at all cylinders during the 11/12 season, which include all of the friendlies leading up to the Euros as well as the Portugal game, where they had absolutely 0 creativity in the midfield. However, their big game mentality showed through the annihilation of Italy, who usually give them a hard time. In terms of Spain's future for the WC, they probably won't win it again since their midfield will never be the same. Xavi won't be as world class when he turns 34; Iniesta will slow down at 30; Xabi Alonso may or may not be fine as he fairly static with Busquets in their flat DM system; Arbeloa needs replaced due to age. Cesc Fabregas will never replace Xavi unless Tito Vilanova gives him a true and consistent midfield role in Barcelona. Despite this, they will gain Thiago, who plays like a mix of Iniesta and Xavi with the swagger of Ronaldinho (in other words, he'll probably become world class). Busquets and Jordi Alba will be older and thus will be better than they already are, as well as Sergio Ramos (he's already a world class CB, which he only started maining in 2012 due to Carvalho's injury). Javi Martinez will probably replace Xabi Alonso assuming Del Bosque likes his flat DM system. Adrian and Mata will become likely contenders to start up top. As long as Del Bosque adapts his system to not play with Xavi and Iniesta, they'll be fine, but don't expect them to win the WC due to their dubious amount of trophies. My list of favorites for the 2014: - Germany: they were the best team and have the best manager (arguably) in the Euros but lost to Italy's chess football; Loew is too good of a manager not to learn from his losses with Italy and Spain - Japan: Dark horses (not exactly expecting them to win but will surprise many); they're terribly underrated and are the best team behind Spain in the possession game (see all the Korea games and watch how Zaccheroni changed them... scary stuff) - Argentina: Messi + 10 other bros; apparently, destiny awaits him plus the Brazil/Argentina rivalry is pretty scary Who I expect to flop: - Brazil: Their team is overrated and unbalanced atm; only reason why the US and the Asian teams lose to them is because of the perceived "goodness" of their players; I can't see this trend changing at all and I don't think their home advantage will save them from embarrassment - Netherlands: they have been a tad overrated during the WC and showed through their losses in the Euros; van Marwik killed their total football tradition and probably won't come back to that standard for a long time
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