:rolleyes: The boy Jesus really struggled with the crosses.
I came to the conclusion that Spain really missed a wide player with the class of someone like Ashley Young. Someone who could beat his man and beat the first man with his cross. Also where the fook was Fabregas?
The Switz opened them up on the counter a bit in the second half. Sennaās influence was badly missed. Busquets was anonymous. Villa isnt suited to playing up front by himself. He improved when Torres came on though.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
FFS
Some further thoughts on the game last night.
Hitzfeld truly mastered Del Bosque tactically. Spain absolutely owned the ball early on but the Switz side despite the early loss of Senderos did not panic. Inler marshalled the midfield superbly and Switz protected the area in front of the D expertly forcing Spain out wide.
Del Bosque recognised this by sending out two widemen in the second half. Rodriguez though continued to play inside stupidly. Navas stood on the touchline and received many passes but again the Switz didnt panic by getting too tight. Navas crossing was deplorable and his dribbling predictable in the extreme. The full back had his number very early on.
This crossing game isnt Spainās natural game in any case. Getting to the byeline and whipping in crosses is more EPL. By protecting the space in front of the penalty box, Hitzfeld forced Spain to spread it wide and cross ball into the box which suited his central defenders and holding midfielders that always outnumbered the Spanish attackers.
As mentioned in the official WC preview, Villa struggled as a lone centre forward. Spain couldnt get the ball into his feet in the central area and he lost confidence quickly. Upon the introduction of Torres he was seen to improve markedly. A couple of neat assists that the very rusty Torres couldnt take advantage of.
Spain badly lacked a Frank Lampard in midfield. Someone to go by Villa and draw the cover of the defensive midfielders. It was apparent early on that there was no need to have Alonso and Busquets both lying deep. Busquets was anonymous in the extreme but Spain had a problem in that all three, Xavi, Alonso and Busquets tried to be first receiver. This suited the Switz who would have been more afraid of Xavi playing off Villa and looking to get beyond him. Fabregas would have been perfect for this role. Was he injured? Silva tucked inside repeatedly and Iniesta after a bright start failed to expose the very nervous Switz right back.
Going forward Spain need a tactical revision to generate more goal scoring opportunities. Torres fitness is an issue but he has to start. He gave them a focal point up front. Iniesta and Villa to provide the wide options off him but not to hug the touchline. The full backs should be used for that. The midfield three should consist of Alonso, Xavi and Fabregas with Fabregas given licence to press forward in support. Ramos I felt was brutal last night too and perhaps the more solid Arbeloa should be considered.
-------------Casillas----------------
Arbeloa-Puyol-Pique-Capdevilla
-------Alonso-Xavi---------------
---------Fabregas-------------------
Iniesta-------------------Villa-----
-------------Torres---------------
[quote=āKIB man, post: 477850ā]
I came to the conclusion that Spain really missed a wide player with the class of someone like Ashley Young. Someone who could beat his man and beat the first man with his cross. Also where the fook was Fabregas?[/quote]
[quote=āKIB man, post: 477852ā]
This crossing game isnt Spainās natural game in any case. Getting to the byeline and whipping in crosses is more EPL.
Spain badly lacked a Frank Lampard in midfield. [/quote]
good points there.
Indeed.
Pedro didnāt stay wide enough but Spain shouldnāt play with wide men was another conclusion I was able to draw from that.
Marcos Senna is KIB Manās Andy Reid for Spain.
Spainish Media believe they have nailed the reason for the defeat yesterday.
Spanish media have blamed the girlfriend of goalkeeper Iker Casillas for their shock defeat to Switzerland in the World Cup yesterday.
Sara Carbonera, a television presenter voted sexiest journalist in the world, has come under fire for a post-match interview with her boyfriend Casillas in which she asked him: āHow did you manage to muck it up?ā
Spanish fans have claimed it is the journalist herself who is responsible for the sideās loss in the tournament opener.
She later faced questions from her own TV channel - Telecinco - about her ādestablisingā of the national team.
āCan I destablise the team? I think it is nonsenseā, Carbonera said.
The sideās WAGs, known as āesposas y noviasā are not normally allowed to travel with the players.
Given the bird, I cant blame poor aul Iker
http://www.kickette.com/files/2010/06/Sara-C-no-likey.jpg
http://www.kickette.com/files/2010/06/Sara-C-is-not-too-far.jpg
Veron is big loss for Argentina today, Maxi Rodriguez is nowhere near as good a ball player/play makerā¦
Korea available at 8.2 on betfairā¦Guttierez is a liability at right back but have gone for the Argies at 4/7 here, they just have too much of a goal threat and should be a bit sharper than they were at the weekendā¦
Think that round two of the group stages will be better than the first group games as certain teams(serbia, spain, france etc) will have to come out and take the game to the opposition
Iād like to see Pastore make an appearance at some stage. Hopefully Seba missing out will at least keep him fresh for the knockout stages.
It should be a fascinating game, I feel the Koreans hard working style could cause us prolems.
It has the potential to be a very good game, with Argies looking to create and run at the Fishheads while the fishheads will look to counter attack at every possibility, would be far more positive about an Argie victory if Burdizzo was at right backā¦
Reckon there could well be a few goals in thisā¦Going for a 3-2 Argie win
some top class reporting there in MBBs link:
The sideās WAGs, known as āesposas y noviasā
suprisingly, the wives and girlfriends are known as esposas y novias, which is Spanish for wives and girlfriends. whoād have thought it eh? thank god for top class tabloid reporting.
I am glad to report that Jim Beglin is alive and well and co commentating for ITV hereā¦
That was a smashing free kick into the boxā¦
Argies are playing like a team 1 down with 5 minutes leftā¦
Di Maria, Maxi, Messi, Tevz and Higuan make up a front 5ā¦
But OG just puts them 1 up.
Shocking blow for the Koreans there. Argentina could go to town on them if they drop the heads.
Di Maria is looking lively so far after a muted display against Nigeriaā¦some lovely touches so far
walter samual holding the hammerā¦ if it was still 0-0 reckon Diego would bring on Milito for himā¦
Ah lovely. Magical ball in by Leo. The Koreans were looking like hey were going to park the bus but they will have to comeout and play somewhat now. Ceticās Ki with a fine effort from distance.
Worrying stuff as now Samuel has to off with a hamstring pull. Was barely moving at the time.
Overall a good first quarter from the lads.
instead Burdisso enters the frayā¦
http://imgs.tootoo.com/5d/cb/5dcb0d7d8708dd9f7124177183329bb4.jpg
On the radio this morning that North Korea have paid Chinese actors and chinese fans to pose as their fans at the World Cup.
See, even they think they all look the same!!!