Or England....
Let's all laugh at Spain
- Thread starter ivaldo
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"they tried everything, even the infernal catapult, they have to keep trying" 
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Yes, I'd imagine there will be one for England, where all the grumpy people will become happy, and all the happy people will become grumpy.
Apparently Diego Costa questioned the appointment of Koke as a penalty taker.
He told Hierro that Koke would miss.
When Koke actually missed, Costa took a step forward out of the waiting teammates to look at Hierro to do a "I told you so"
He told Hierro that Koke would miss.
When Koke actually missed, Costa took a step forward out of the waiting teammates to look at Hierro to do a "I told you so"
There's a video showing all that.
Does anyone see any similarities between the Spain team this tournament and LVG’s football ? It seems that when tikki-takka is played with players who are slow/past their prime, it becomes this dull side passing affair with little penetration. It seems to play this style of football requires a certain level of player and tempo (see pep at city, barca 09-13ish) which the likes of an ageing iniesta, busquets, silva and Isco cannot provide anymore.
More so against teams who are happy to sit back and soak the pressure, which is what we saw with us during LVG's tenure. When teams actually come to play aggressively, tiki-taka/possession tends to work really well. Remember that period of games back in early 2015 where United looked like league leaders?
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I love Costa. Might be a cnut, but can't help wishing he played for us.
That could potentially awkward when they meet up for pre-season.
Maybe he knows Koke had a bad game and also he's bad at penalties at Atletico?I love Costa. Might be a cnut, but can't help wishing he played for us.
For a team of such great generational players, they've only turned up at one World Cup. They made that count at least. I remember them being very boring even in 2010 though to be honest. But that's just opinion.
They need a new era now, they do have a great supply of players though so they can make it work but may have to alter their style. They need to bring in players with more pace to stretch the game.
They need a new era now, they do have a great supply of players though so they can make it work but may have to alter their style. They need to bring in players with more pace to stretch the game.
Probably just saw that he was crapping himself.
How many teams turn up at more than one World Cup? They did turn up at two European Championships at least.
I watched some of the Spain vs Russia Euro 2008 games again earlier on, just out of curiosity comparing them to this recent game. Russia look like they've regressed about 100 years technically since then, within the space of a single generation. Spain played like a parody of their 2010-2012 style, which surprised me as from the qualifiers i had watched of the(or even as recent as the Portugal game) they seemed to have a good balance between retaining the ball and picking when to be more direct.
It was for sure not the age of the players. But they did not play the specialists Iniesta, Thiago and Busquets in midfield - but with Koke and Isco. That passing game is always combined with the positioning. If you can play more direct - what is up to the opponent, too, but teams will sit back against Spain especially in knockout matches if Spain does not lead - Koke and Isco for sure are fine matches.
The speed is not made by the running of the players but with the movement of the ball...
It's a results business I understand and I guess your definition of showing up in a world cup is semi-final and beyond? I think they were good in 1994 and actually very unfortunate to lose to Italy in a game they largely dominated after Caminero scored and also 2002 they were strong and really only went out due to some blatantly corrupt officiating. They'd have likely beaten that German team and played a final.
I understand the general perception of a big underachiever though. They sent quality sides to Euro 96 and France 98 also and were knocked out (controversially after two wrongly judged offside goals) on pens by England in 96 at the quarters and unbelievably were taken out at the group stage due to some terrible goalkeeping errors from Zubizarreta (against Nigeria) and a dour scoreless draw with a grim Paraguayan side in 1998. There always seemed to be a mental block back then and a general acceptance that they couldn't win or a lack of belief in general. Aragones helped change that attitude but I think these days it's perhaps an arrogance or too much faith in an outdated system.
I think they will be fine moving forward. They are still producing tons of talent but it's been a while since Spain produced a goal scoring center forward which is something they've historically always had and I don't see any truly special central defender talents coming through but everywhere else they look excellent. Just need a tweak in the style. Lopetgui had them looking excellent and hadn't lost a game under him. I've no doubt if he were still coach we'd be talking about Spain vs. Croatia coming up.
Spain Euro 2008 was by far their most entertaining football for me. Perhaps by the World Cup they got too good at the Tiki Taka and Torres was already a faded player so it just wasn't as exciting. I also loved Aragones that crazy bastard.
I meant this Spain generation with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Pique, Ramos, Busquets, even people like Villa, Torres. They have been at the top of the game since 2008 but in the three world cups in that time, they've only really played well as a nation in one. Spain is held up as a dominant force for years but on the World Stage the figures don't back it up.
Spain win 2018 World Cup Fair Play Trophy
Spain were only given one card throughout the 2018 World Cup and, as a result, were handed the Fair Play Trophy after Sunday's final.
Only Sergio Busquets picked up a booking for La Roja en route to being sent home after the last-16.
Overall, Spain were fouled 59 times and committed just 32 fouls across their four games, with only teams who made it past the group stage eligible for the award.
Colombia won the 2014 Fair Play Trophy but La Roja also scooped it in 2010 and shared the honour with Brazil in 2006.
Each player is set to receive a medal for this award with 50,000 US dollars worth of football equipment to be gifted by FIFA to the grassroots game in Spain.
Spain were only given one card throughout the 2018 World Cup and, as a result, were handed the Fair Play Trophy after Sunday's final.
Only Sergio Busquets picked up a booking for La Roja en route to being sent home after the last-16.
Overall, Spain were fouled 59 times and committed just 32 fouls across their four games, with only teams who made it past the group stage eligible for the award.
Colombia won the 2014 Fair Play Trophy but La Roja also scooped it in 2010 and shared the honour with Brazil in 2006.
Each player is set to receive a medal for this award with 50,000 US dollars worth of football equipment to be gifted by FIFA to the grassroots game in Spain.
Seconded.
Jajajajaja
Snoozefest FC
cnuts Guessing Enrique missed what happened when England subbed players out last minute for penalties.
It's like watching United under LVG. Only one (boring) way of playing
i thought they'd win it and beat France/England in the semis
Tika Taka needs to die
Tika Taka needs to die
El farto
What a boring team. Literally nothing exciting about them apart from Pedri
Adios
Can't believe they fecked that. Morocco defended fantastically but they just showed 0 creativity today. Loads of great young players so they have a bright future, Nico Williams impressed too I thought, but wow didn't expect that.Boring cnut. Served them right that. Fecker should take a more serious striker than a joke like Asensio or Torres.
Spain is unevenly disadvantaged by pens, since you're not allowed to walk them in.
Amazing
Zero penalties scored. ZERO!
I just read this now, and realised this is from 4 years ago. Insane how it still works perfectly