UEFA Euro 2012: Spain still the Champions of Europe

[_SRV_]

Xavi: 'If people say Spain are boring but we always win ... that's ideal for us. We are making history'

What a hypocrite

Huh?

In EURO 2008, Russia was fun in the last one, but Turkey was a blast.

In this 2012, there were two 0-0 draws, which resulted in the game to be decided by PKs, in the knockout stage. Spain is boring to watch. The host countries declined as the EUROs progressed. In general, the matches in this one were not as fun or exciting to watch. Hopefully we get an awesome finale.

Around midway, I did not find myself angry if I missed part of a game or the whole game, and watch it on demand later. For EURO 2008, I made sure to watch every game live.

I'd take the 0-0 game between England and Italy over many, many high scoring games...
Your personal feelings are subjective, it's been a very good tournament with intense games and a lot of drama surprises, Greece beating Russia, England Vs Sweden, etc...
If anything this tournament is better than the last world cup which was a snooze fest.

[MaliBrah]

Xavi: 'If people say Spain are boring but we always win ... that's ideal for us. We are making history'

What a hypocrite

Huh?

I think he's referring to how all the barcelona players were crying anti football when chelsea found a strategy that worked in the champions league that won them games and ultimately the whole thing but now xavi is saying as long as we win we dont care so he's being a hypocrite.

[5DOM]

Huh?

I think he's referring to how all the barcelona players were crying anti football when chelsea found a strategy that worked in the champions league that won them games and ultimately the whole thing but now xavi is saying as long as we win we dont care so he's being a hypocrite.

Not so much from Xavi but I did find some quotes from him:

"There is something greater than the result, more lasting. A legacy. Inter won the Champions League but no one talks about them."

It's good that the reference point for world football right now is Barcelona, that it's Spain. Not because it's ours but because of what it is. Because it's an attacking football, it's not speculative, we don't wait. You pressure, you want possession, you want to attack.

[El Turco]

i don't think first quote is about playing mentality and he is correct. boring or not Barcelona and Spain will leave a long lasting legacy even if they don't win another trophy unlike a team that had a perfect storm on their way to winning a tournament.

[5DOM]

I don't deny that Spain and Barcelona will have a long lasting legacy. It's just that their players and staff have previously claimed that they would rather lose Barca-way than win with anti-football. Now that they are the ones being accused of being anti-football, they care more about results?

And I believe the first quote was indeed a reference to the style of football played. Xavi was very critical of the negative football Inter played at Camp Nou.

As for Barcelona and Spain's legacy, I think it's again the results rather than their style that will make them long lasting. Arsenal have also been praised for playing beautiful football, but their legacy won't be anywhere near Barcelona's or Spain's.

[El Turco]

leaving legacy has less to do with playing beautiful football but more to do with dominating competition with tactical intellect a la Catenaccio or Total football. when you think about Spain or Barcelona years from now, you'll remember how they beat their competition by making 400+ passes in the midfield as much you'll remember how many titles they've won.

and they are not actually being anti-football, you can't be anti-football while maintaining possession 60%+ of the time imo. anti-football to me is parking the bus and not making any attempt to control the ball other than occasional runaway counter attack or dead ball situation. they are boring to watch since other teams still haven't found a way to stop them from controlling the gameplay but hardly anti-football.

[5DOM]

Tiki-taka's always had defensive aspects to it, but the current Spain team's system with Xabi Alonso and Busquets is as defensive as it can get. How many chances did Spain even create in their last game? That, along with diving, play-acting and card-waving, is just as anti-football as normal counter-attacking football IMO (but what's proper football anyway?) That said, I don't really have anything against anti-football as long as it delivers results. I have just never understood why people try to belittle one defensive tactic over another and why so many of Barca players/supporters in particular think only their way of playing is the right way.

[_SRV_]

A game for Barcelona with less than 6-7 surefire chances for scoring is an anomaly. Spain national team is obviously not like that, any attempt to lump them both in the same category is wrong, Barcelona was never this passive offensively, Barcelona controlled the ball to attack, Spain just for the sake of controlling it.
I agree it's hypocrite from Xavi to condemn Inter and Chelsea for their bunkers and defend Spain's style, but I always differentiate between club and international level, it's always different ball game, that's why I find this Euro surprisingly entertaining, International level football is usually more "coward" than what's being displayed.

[Slava]

To be fair they could be playing Busquets at CB and still maintain the same shape, while having Ramos attack from the right than Arbeloa, who seems to be pretty dire.

I still think they haven't hit their stride because of Villa's absence. A true center forward would stop teams pressing all the way into their midfield and they could play with one less DM for cover.

[5DOM]

A game for Barcelona with less than 6-7 surefire chances for scoring is an anomaly. Spain national team is obviously not like that, any attempt to lump them both in the same category is wrong, Barcelona was never this passive offensively, Barcelona controlled the ball to attack, Spain just for the sake of controlling it.
I agree it's hypocrite from Xavi to condemn Inter and Chelsea for their bunkers and defend Spain's style, but I always differentiate between club and international level, it's always different ball game, that's why I find this Euro surprisingly entertaining, International level football is usually more "coward" than what's being displayed.

I agree. They are all great teams, but Spain in 08 and Barca in general have been much more entertaining and purposeful in their passes than this Spain team whose football Lizarazu just likened to "love without sex". Like Slava, I've been hoping they play with 1 DM rather than 2, but I guess they've be getting the results

Hoping for a good Final today. Hope Balotelli and Torres score.

[Point forward]

All in all, this EC has been clean but sober - great fans, no ugly fouls, but an abundance of surgically clean 1-0s, in which teams practially played with 8-9 midfielders: ball possession galore, but rarely open chances.

BTW, my Dream Team:

Casillas
Srna, Terry, Agger, F. Coentrao
Xavi, Khedira, Pirlo (MVP), Iniesta
Balotelli, C. Ronaldo

HM: Irish fans

[G R E Y]

I really thought Germany would win, but Italy took over and with style. I think now that Poland and England and France are out (yes, ONLY three favourites ), I may just cheers for Italy to take it all

[Next Coming]

All I'm hoping for is an entertaining game that doesn't go into PK's.

[5DOM]

All in all, this EC has been clean but sober - great fans, no ugly fouls, but an abundance of surgically clean 1-0s, in which teams practially played with 8-9 midfielders: ball possession galore, but rarely open chances.

BTW, my Dream Team:

Casillas
Srna, Terry, Agger, F. Coentrao
Xavi, Khedira, Pirlo (MVP), Iniesta
Balotelli, C. Ronaldo

HM: Irish fans

Funny what one game can do. Hummels was one of the favorites to win player of the tournament, and now he could be left out of the team of the tournament. I think Moutinho should be ahead of Xavi btw. Jordi Alba and Buffon also deserve some honorable mentions

[magik9113]

lineups have yet to be announced??

[5DOM]

They are out. Cesc starts up front instead of Torres or Negredo, so I hope they get battered.

Abate in for Italy. Otherwise unchanged

[magik9113]

there's no doubt in my mind Italy wins this

[Point forward]

there's no doubt in my mind Italy wins this

I fear that both teams will neutralise each other with surgically clean, but deadly inefficient tiki-taka-naccio, and after goalless 120 minutes, the winner will win 2-1 after PKs.

(I will be happy to eat crow)

[Point forward]

Italy starts slightly nervous, but Spain is also cautious.

[5DOM]

Spain looking very sharp