Comments on: Spain are heavily fancied for Euro 2008, but problems remain

By: Vitruvian 21

Vitruvian 21 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:14:33 +0000

I do agree that Germany should be considered favorites, considering their footballing history, the role geography plays in this event not to mention their current form. But, despite the win they had against Poland klagenfurt and the command they exhibit over their game, I am inclined to believe current form, not statistics, and for me the Polish team were slightly overawed at their German opponents on the night which helped to nurture an innately-German professional team effort showing fine displays of game control and temporance on the ball.

Although, in a strange way, the down side of Germanys game is that when in control of the game they have a tendency to become too tightly organized, particularly in mid-field and up front, in-turn showing their weakness in creativity in those areas and offering all their opponents incentive to become disarmingly inventive. (can Germany become more flexible under the responsibility-laden Michael Ballack

By: Kevin Fylan

Kevin Fylan — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:08:23 +0000

Great to see Spain counter-attacking so well. That’s been a feature of the good teams at this tournament. Defence looked a bit so-so, I thought. There may be trouble ahead, but let’s enjoy the ride while it lasts … until the quarter-finals, one assumes.

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:09:09 +0000

Yes, I was really pleased to see Spain show they so have more than one string to their bow and although they came under some heavy pressure from Russia after their first goal, they read the game perfectly and played some great counter-attacking football.

After all the furore in the Madrid media about the absence of Raul it was great to see Villa prove what a deadly finisher he is.

Sweden finished behind Spain in the qualifiers but they are a more streetwise outfit than Russia and should provide a better measure of where Spain are at at Euro 2008.

By: Lee@guillembalague.com

Lee@guillembalague.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:38:26 +0000

I know this is cheating - as I’ve just seen Spain thump Russia 4-1, but any doubts that an over-emphasis on tiki-taka were quickly dispelled with a new found directness. Where did that come from. Has Aragones been keeping it up his sleeve with the werthers?
I thouhgt we’d see the usual 90 minutes of Xavi/Iniesta/Fabregas et al stroking the ball around making triangles while forgetting that they’re supposed to be getting it to the forwards at some point in the match.

Mind you, we have seen it all before I suppose, and it won’t be long before some dastardly stroke of outrageous misfortune sends them packing in a fortnight.

By: Babs

Babs — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:16:15 +0000

Spain need to work out a system that brings Fabregas and Torres into the game. As an Arsenal fan, I think Fabregas is an amazing player and although I dont like Liverpool, I´ve found myself watching Torres with a smile as he waved his way throuhg the defence over and over again. If Arragones can´t get the best out of Fabregas and Torres, then he will not only be loosing to great players, but will also have a negative mental effect on the team having such players unable to work with the system.

By: Mark Elkington

Mark Elkington — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:59:11 +0000

Unless individuals shine in key moments to win games consistently Spain won’t do it, talented though they are. They lack the killer instinct, the team spirit, and the defence to make it to the final. They play pretty rather than effective football and will suffer all over again

By: Gonzalo @ All In White

Gonzalo @ All In White — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:27:40 +0000

They won’t.

I’ve been a fully paid-up member of the ‘we won’t get past the quarters’ for some years now, which doesn’t make the pain of the unfairness of the exit in 2002 go away, but which means I was mostly indifferent at the last European Championships and World Cup. Aragonés is not tactically adept enough to win this, which doesn’t mean Spain can’t win it (after all, Greece did, last time) but it’s not going to be easy.

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Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:31:20 +0000

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