Spain vs Germany

[AirWolf]

I'd love to see a Netherlands victory just so we can have reams and reams of excuses from Cantera about why Spain are better and should have won.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I have never seen the Dutch play the same way Spain does. They do not play possession football.

K then, if you insist.

I'd love to see a Netherlands victory just so we can have reams and reams of excuses from Cantera about why Spain are better and should have won.

It still won't stop him from getting a hard-on at the mention of Villa's name

 

[AirWolf]

K then, if you insist.

It still won't stop him from getting a hard-on at the mention of Villa's name

Roflmao

 

[Alan]

I wonder what happened to Villa.
Many complain about Torres leading the line, but Villa was just as bad as Torres was before.
Its my opinion that they are not bad, but rather that the spanish type of football makes the person leading the line the most difficult job.
The spanish crowd the central midfield - which also means the opposition does the same. So the forward has no space, ir crowded with defenders.
Also the reason why Pedro yesterday, and Villa and Navas before them receive so much of the ball and space. The opposition tactics is what Rafa used to win the Champions league, he pushed the opposition wide and made them put crosses in which the defenders could easily handle.

I agree. Playing Villa up front took him out the game proving IMO that the problem is not so much Torres but tactics. Interesting to see what happens in the final. You'd want Villa out wide but Pedro played very well yet they'll need Torres' height and strength up front.

Must feel sorry for poor Torres being played like that after a season with Rafa who had him all alone up front with no support and having chunks kicked out of him.

 

[Ronjay]

You still dont get it. Teams dont go out for 90 mins and decide, ok im going to defend for 90 mins. (well unless you are Inter Milan)

Obviously they are intent on pushing foward when they get the ball, but Spain never allowed it. They play so high up that the Germans were forced to boot the ball foward. There was very little counter attacks because of Spain's pressure and the ability to recycle the ball and push Germany back.

Do you think it is coincidence that all of Spain's opponents are forced to defend?

Dont be surprised if the Dutch are forced to play football in their own half on Sunday, but maybe you will think that the gameplan is to defend?

Oh please, the Spanish are not as good as you'd like to think. It wasn't so much as the Spanish playing good football as the Germans playing poorly. The fact of the matter is the Germans allowed the Spanish to dictate the game instead of closing them down. They allowed far to many passes to be made and that forced them to hang back, that is the only reason there was no counter attacks from Germany, because they were all hanging back behind the ball. It's pretty hard to counter if all ten men are standing behind the ball defending. If the Spanish were really playing well why was there only one shot at goal on target in the first half? The Spanish had a lot of possession but they could do nothing with it and it wasn't because of anything Germany were doing either. I'm sorry but if the Germans had been more closing on the midfield of the Spanish then they would not have had such a glut of possession and the Germans would have been able to push up more. That is the only reason that the Spanish looked a better side, they were allowed far to much time on the ball.

 

[d0b33]

Wish I had stuck with Spain all along... I went from supporting Spain, then Germany, then Argentina, then Germany again and now the team I originally believed but then doubted would make it to the final makes it! Great game though.

 

[superskully]

Never ever ever compare Villa to Torres. Spain's best decision last night was to drop Torres to the bench. He has been useless this World Cup. Villa is a better striker and has ALWAYS been. Dont be fooled by Torres' EPL wonder season.

Your Opinion.

The reason why there is no space for the Spanish strikers is because 95% of teams park the bus, it has nothing to do with the style of play.

You are actually contradicting yourself now.
Why do 95% of teams park the bus - has everything to do with the Spanish style of play. As you clearly stated so many times, the Spanish (aka Barca) gameplay forces teams to sit back.

 

[fishfly]

Your Opinion.



You are actually contradicting yourself now.
Why do 95% of teams park the bus - has everything to do with the Spanish style of play. As you clearly stated so many times, the Spanish (aka Barca) gameplay forces teams to sit back.

Yes Cantera always contridicts himself - he's most likely got split personality disorder BUT Villa is worlds best. Torres is a pissy compared to Villa, it's like you trying to compare Morientes to Raul

 

[Rustum]

Spain, bloody agents.

 

[Cantera]

Your Opinion.



You are actually contradicting yourself now.
Why do 95% of teams park the bus - has everything to do with the Spanish style of play. As you clearly stated so many times, the Spanish (aka Barca) gameplay forces teams to sit back.

Villa is better than Torres. Care to share the two stats over the past 5 seasons?

Regarding the style of play, i was commenting on it has nothing to do with the style because some noted in this thread that maybe it is the style of play that is causing Torres to suffer in the team.

That is bollocks, because Torres has been playing in this team for yonks and he is very familiar to the style, its nothing new to him.

Of course you can flip my comments to suit you, it still doesnt change the fact that Torres is not even close to Villa's standards. Even little Pedro made Torres look silly when he started and did more in 80 mins than Torres did this entire World Cup.

 

[Cantera]

Oh please, the Spanish are not as good as you'd like to think. It wasn't so much as the Spanish playing good football as the Germans playing poorly. The fact of the matter is the Germans allowed the Spanish to dictate the game instead of closing them down. They allowed far to many passes to be made and that forced them to hang back, that is the only reason there was no counter attacks from Germany, because they were all hanging back behind the ball. It's pretty hard to counter if all ten men are standing behind the ball defending. If the Spanish were really playing well why was there only one shot at goal on target in the first half? The Spanish had a lot of possession but they could do nothing with it and it wasn't because of anything Germany were doing either. I'm sorry but if the Germans had been more closing on the midfield of the Spanish then they would not have had such a glut of possession and the Germans would have been able to push up more. That is the only reason that the Spanish looked a better side, they were allowed far to much time on the ball.

So you think that the Germans chose to camp in their own half?

Same like Portugal, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile? Why do all these teams camp all their players in their own box and allow the Spanish all that possession? So you are of the opinion that the Germans just decided to hang back and not counter, was that their gameplan do you think?

In the final, if the Dutch also hang back, are you going to say the Dutch was poor in the final?

 

[Ronjay]

So you think that the Germans chose to camp in their own half?

Same like Portugal, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile? Why do all these teams camp all their players in their own box and allow the Spanish all that possession? So you are of the opinion that the Germans just decided to hang back and not counter, was that their gameplan do you think?

In the final, if the Dutch also hang back, are you going to say the Dutch was poor in the final?

Hahahaha, so where does Switzerland fit in in your expert game plan analysis. Did Spain forget to starve them of the ball? Face it, ball possession with out direction can be a real disaster.

 

[Cantera]

Hahahaha, so where does Switzerland fit in in your expert game plan analysis. Did Spain forget to starve them of the ball? Face it, ball possession with out direction can be a real disaster.

Ball posession allows you to dictate the game, if you have the ball, the other team cannot score.

Spain had 67% possession compared to the Swiss's 33% so yes they were starved of the ball.

So tell me did all these teams decide to give up and just defend? Was that their gameplan?

 

[Stickfigure]

Ball posession allows you to dictate the game, if you have the ball, the other team cannot score.

Spain had 67% possession compared to the Swiss's 33% so yes they were starved of the ball.

So tell me did all these teams decide to give up and just defend? Was that their gameplan?

But Switzerland did score and Spain didn't.

 

[Ronjay]

Spain had 67% possession compared to the Swiss's 33% so yes they were starved of the ball.

So tell me did all these teams decide to give up and just defend? Was that their gameplan?

Yes of course they starved them, that's the point. They still couldn't score. Possession is not everything. As for the other teams, lets see.

Honduras is never going to test Spain and neither is Chile, and Portugal where hardly starved of ball and had good chances at scoring. I am not saying that Spain are not good at what they do only that if sides shut down the passing and prevented the possession control Spain would not be quite so invincible looking. And that was what Germany failed to do, through no ones fault but their own.

 

[Cantera]

But Switzerland did score and Spain didn't.

I know that mate. Not saying that its impossible to score just saying that there is more to ball possession than mindlessly passing the ball around.

Yes of course they starved them, that's the point. They still couldn't score. Possession is not everything. As for the other teams, lets see.

Honduras is never going to test Spain and neither is Chile, and Portugal where hardly starved of ball and had good chances at scoring. I am not saying that Spain are not good at what they do only that if sides shut down the passing and prevented the possession control Spain would not be quite so invincible looking. And that was what Germany failed to do, through no ones fault but their own.

Portugal only managed 39% ball possession, you dont consider that being starved of the ball? They had 3 shots on target for the entire match? Are those the good scoring chances you talk of?

The point is, it is insanely hard to shut down Spain's passing game. Dont you think that Germany, Portugal and the rest all attempted to shut thier passing game down?

Come on, you must believe that was the tactic?

Could they do it?

 

[Ronjay]

I know that mate. Not saying that its impossible to score just saying that there is more to ball possession than mindlessly passing the ball around.



Portugal only managed 39% ball possession, you dont consider that being starved of the ball? They had 3 shots on target for the entire match? Are those the good scoring chances you talk of?

The point is, it is insanely hard to shut down Spain's passing game. Dont you think that Germany, Portugal and the rest all attempted to shut thier passing game down?

Come on, you must believe that was the tactic?

Could they do it?

Um, that is why I was bitching at the German side throughout the game, there was absolutely no attempt from the Germans to shut down the Spanish midfield. The odd tackle was made but other then that, the Spanish had acres of space and could pass the ball around like there was no opposition on the field.

 

[Cantera]

Um, that is why I was bitching at the German side throughout the game, there was absolutely no attempt from the Germans to shut down the Spanish midfield. The odd tackle was made but other then that, the Spanish had acres of space and could pass the ball around like there was no opposition on the field.

Dude, that is the same argument used when people crit Barcelona play. the reality is that the game plan is ALWAYS to shut them out but it is insanely difficult to do. If you push foward and try to close them out there is always that possiblity of getting cut wide open by their midfield. Germany attempted to do it, but they were chasing shadows all night.

 

[Ronjay]

Dude, that is the same argument used when people crit Barcelona play. the reality is that the game plan is ALWAYS to shut them out but it is insanely difficult to do. If you push foward and try to close them out there is always that possiblity of getting cut wide open by their midfield. Germany attempted to do it, but they were chasing shadows all night.

Well if you close off midfield supply I can't see them doing to much damage. But anything is better then just waiting for the crosses and striker penetrations. I still maintain if a team is holding the ball in the midfield the best thing to do is go and fetch it. Defending is just not the answer.