What's Spanish for "Classy"?
Just finished watching Spain-Tunisia (on tape; some of us have to work). Notwithstanding an early Tunisia goal (on some brilliant ball work by a Tunisian player in the PA), the Spaniards dominated this game from start to finish. Holding the ball for 66% of the game, outshooting Tunisia 24-4 (at one point, Spain had taken 10 shots at the Tun goal to none for their opponents), Spain looked pretty on TV. We'll have to wait for the Ref and crew to comment on the game from the perspective inside the stadium.
Of all the games I've watched over the past week and a half (something like 31-32 games played to date; I've seen maybe 20 live or on tape), Spain has looked among the best sides. Great flowing passes, working to get the ball inside to forwards, creative playmaking. Even though Tunisia had 9-10 players inside its own half once it scored the early goal, Spain continued probing, exploring the defense, finding openings, making several hard shots on frame. The Tunisia keeper made several reflex saves, keeping Spain off the scoreboard quite a long time.
Tomorrow, we begin the final set of games to determine either who advances or, in some groups, the placement of teams. First up is surprising Ecuador against the host Germans. Clear rooting interest here in this household: Ecuadorian family member. Ms. AR works with a bunch of folks with connections to Germany, so we're hopeful she'll have something to cheer about at the office. Ecuador has played well in its first two games, so a defeat of Germany is not out of the question.
The other game of significance is England-Sweden. As noted in an earlier post , England hasn't beaten Sweden since 1968. Of course, these sorts of stats are deceptive: the players have changed a bit over the years. None, in fact of the players was born the last time England beat the Swedes. But for the English players, this has to weigh on the English psyche as they get ready for the game.
However things shake out, I have a pretty good inkling that my colleagues in Germany would love to see a England-Germany game, which would require German and Swedish victories, a not unlikely occurrence.
2 comments:
my issue with spain is that they are so physically unimposing. hard to see them matching up well against a physical team with skill and speed.
I didn't see the Ukraine game, but your comment suggest that the Ukranians weren't particularly physical. But I was impressed with the speed of their play. If the are able to move the ball as quickly as they did against Tunisia in future games, I think they avoid problems with the more physical teams. I also think you need to factor in how the WC is being called (and how FIFA wants the games to be called): the more physical teams are finding themselves called for fouls much more quickly than they are used to. So the refs are protecting, to a degree, the more skilled players from those who are more apt to use body and hands in their play. (In this regard, I have to say that Gooch was lucky not to have picked up a YC for PI in the Italy game.)
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