The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup

[pintsofguinness]

I hope Holland win.

I can't warm to Spain.

[paco]

Before the tournament people talked about how good the Spanish were going forward & have a weakness at the back but now that's the 3rd 1-0 for them there kinda like Greece from 2004 euros

Bit of a ridiculous statement! The thing about Spain is they're patient. Not everyone might appreciate it but they keep possession better than anyone and will do so until a decisive pass can be made, like Pedro's ball through to Villa in the first half. You can't expect them to lump it forward for Villa to climb above Mertesacker.

[ross4life]

Before the tournament people talked about how good the Spanish were going forward & have a weakness at the back but now that's the 3rd 1-0 for them there kinda like Greece from 2004 euros

Bit of a ridiculous statement! The thing about Spain is they're patient. Not everyone might appreciate it but they keep possession better than anyone and will do so until a decisive pass can be made, like Pedro's ball through to Villa in the first half. You can't expect them to lump it forward for Villa to climb above Mertesacker.

They have been tipped as the Barcelona of International football there more like Inter Milan IMO

[paco]

Before the tournament people talked about how good the Spanish were going forward & have a weakness at the back but now that's the 3rd 1-0 for them there kinda like Greece from 2004 euros

Bit of a ridiculous statement! The thing about Spain is they're patient. Not everyone might appreciate it but they keep possession better than anyone and will do so until a decisive pass can be made, like Pedro's ball through to Villa in the first half. You can't expect them to lump it forward for Villa to climb above Mertesacker.

They have been tipped as the Barcelona of International football there more like Inter Milan IMO

How so? The only real similarity I see is the 2 holding midfielders. I mean, you would never see Spain playing like Inter did at the Nou Camp last season.

[ross4life]

Before the tournament people talked about how good the Spanish were going forward & have a weakness at the back but now that's the 3rd 1-0 for them there kinda like Greece from 2004 euros

Bit of a ridiculous statement! The thing about Spain is they're patient. Not everyone might appreciate it but they keep possession better than anyone and will do so until a decisive pass can be made, like Pedro's ball through to Villa in the first half. You can't expect them to lump it forward for Villa to climb above Mertesacker.

They have been tipped as the Barcelona of International football there more like Inter Milan IMO

How so? The only real similarity I see is the 2 holding midfielders. I mean, you would never see Spain playing like Inter did at the Nou Camp last season.

They get the Job done without impressing & do you think Spain wouldn't play the same if they got a player sent off  in the final & a goal up like inter were?

[AZOffaly]

I think Spain are impressive. The way they pass and keep the ball in tight spaces is amazing. However, like a lot of teams that get good at that (see Arsenal and Barcelona) they now have gone too far the other way, and lack real potency because they try to walk the ball into the net.

Every so often it's no harm to put a ball down the channels or over the sides for Villa/Torres, or have a bang from distance.

I don't think it's any coincidence that Villa had his worst game (IMO) tonight, and Torres has struggled at #9 all tournament. Spain are not set up to play to a centre forward's strengths at the moment.

But from defence up to the last third, they're the best I've seen at keeping the ball and controlling tempo.

[imtommygunn]

Spain and Inter are ridiculous comparisons. For a start half the spain team are the barcelona team.

Spain are offensive and Inter are not. Spain passed the ball around without having a cutting edge final third for a good while - that doesn't make them a defensive team.

Half the reason they have conceded so few is that the other team are unable to get possession of the ball. When they have possession they are probing. When Inter have possession they are killing time. Big difference.

[Main Street]

Germany were made look poor tonight. Spain had them by the goolies all night.  Savage header from Puyol.
Strange to see such a fearful, gutless, defensive and negative German team,  because the evidence was whenever they did get close to Spain's goal there were varying degrees of mayhem created, more than Spain managed to effect with 10x possession. Glad to see  them go out, unworthy of being in the final.

[Minder]

I can't understand why some of you see Spain as boring, they play great football, have the most talented squad of players. They may not create clear cut chance after chance but they keep the ball until they see an opening. It was a WC semi, it wasn't going to be 6-4.

[sammymaguire]

How the germans ripped the argies and the English apart is a bit of a mystery after that performance cos they did not really look that threatening against an average Spanish defence. Still, best 2 teams in the final imo

[ross4life]

Spain and Inter are ridiculous comparisons. For a start half the Spain team are the Barcelona team.

Spain are offensive and Inter are not.

That's my point exactly they have half the barca team but don't excite like them maybe -messi is the reason for that? as for Inter they have been offensive but people seem to only remember the defensive games they play

[paco]

No I don't think they would have Ross, essentially they would still have had at least 4 midfield players which wouldn't have changed their style of play. Germany's tactics played right into Spain's hands tonight, Germany destroyed England and Argentina because both these teams played so openly and allowed themselves to be ripped apart on the counter attack. Spain's patient play and possession was perfect to defeat Germany. They also missed Muller because his running was what often linked defence to attack so quickly.

[Minder]

Iniesta is really starting to hit form at the right time.

[imtommygunn]

The difference I would see is a focal point in attack.

Villa plays far too wide, Torres has been poor and Pedro played out wide too.

Inter haven't been too offensive. They've obviously been offensive enough to get a lead up but they play typical Mourinho brand football.  Eto can often be seen in his own box. They are crap to watch and ruin games just like every team Mourinho ever produced. Mourinho won't let full backs past the half way line.

Podolski looked like he could be dangerous on the counter too. Some pace about him.

[Bogball XV]

Spain and Inter are ridiculous comparisons. For a start half the Spain team are the Barcelona team.

Spain are offensive and Inter are not.

That's my point exactly they have half the barca team but don't excite like them maybe -messi is the reason for that? as for Inter they have been offensive but people seem to only remember the defensive games they play

yeah, the 3-1 beating of barce in san siro has been quickly forgotten.  Messi does add that cutting edge to barce, but spain are not boring to watch, their skill levels are amazing.  Similarily, I can't believe people are saying that arsenal aren't good to watch too.
I was very surprised with germany, but i don't think they wanted to be so defensive, it's just that they had no choice, they couldn't get the ball.