France 1-3, it ended a "cycle" & heralded a new generation
of players for the next 4 - 8 years.
With the euphoria gone, we can now attempt to analyze coldly the
many questions that come to mind. Yesterday Spain lost due to
inexperience; Spain went down because they didn´t know how
to interpret when destructive & checking play was more suitable
over the creative play. People are asking :
¿Why start with Raul? ¿Why bring on Joaquin over Reyes?
¿Why not bring on Albelda & protect the 1-1 scoreline with a
counter -attacking game? Who knows!, its not my intention to
question the Spanish coach who knows more about football than
most Spaniards alive.
What is clear is that the "more experienced" players were BAD
mentors for their younger teammates. It became patently clear
to the World that Spain was not as good a team as we thought,
& importantly, that some of the much "raved" about players
are just good players. I repeat, just good players. Games are won
with goals & Spain is seriously lacking in this department. If you
look at the goals scored most have been penalties or set plays with
opposition player deflections, & the amount of missed opportunities
is worrying. Spain has a good defense, great midfield & an average
forward line that lacks definition & finishing power.
In my humble role of spectator & football lover, I will now ,
with all due respect, review the performance of each player in
the Squad during the tournament:
CASILLAS: Good performance, not really tested throughout the
tournament. Had a few mistakes but rectified with equally good
saves. 7/10
SERGIO RAMOS: Young upcoming defensive "star". Tenacious,
competitive, versatile & good in the air. Is not a lateral player,
Ramos is a CENTRAL defender. Will be part of the new
generation of Spanish team players & in his correct place. 7/10
PABLO: Good defender, very solid & reliable. The experience
of this tournament will strenghten his play. Future cornorstone
of the Spanish defense. 7/10
PUYOL: Maximum effort, concentration & play. Solid, reliable
& leader. One of the few with proven top game experience, that
will be an intregate part of the future team . 8/10
PERNIA: Promised a lot, but delivered little. The reasons being
his late incorporation & non-pre qualifying experience. Very timid,
did not let loose as in the Spanish League & his weapon - free kicks
- not utilized. If he continues to play will depend on his form. 6/10.
CESC FABREGAS: The revelation of the Spanish Team. One of the
most complete midfielders seen in the last 10 years. Intelligent,
creative, patient, vision with pass & goal. Will be the main reference
of the side in the future, a leader & a World class (crack) player. 9/10
XAVI ALONSO: the future looks bright. Another great player
out of the new generation that has matured into a solid &
talented midfielder. Alonso can only grow & get better, he
will be the backbone of the future midfield. 8/10
XAVI HERNANDEZ: excellent player who conducted the team
with a solid head. May have disappointed towards the end, but
remember he came out of a serious injury & he was marked
by opposition players. Future playmaker of the team. 8/10
DAVID VILLA: His goals were from penalties & set pieces, that
says a lot in itself. His inexperience really showed & was obsessed
with scoring & in proving something. The Spanish League 2º top
scorer proved to be just a "good player" & will need to improve
greatly to justify a place in the football elite. 6/10.
RAUL: Disappointing & showed us the start of the end of
the Raul cycle & the generation of players that he represents.
Spain changed its team setup to include him in the big French
match & he contributed with nothing. Controvesial for starting
on the bench & was a fraud when given the chance. Time for
new blood & I personally would not recall to the Squad. Better
to finish his career at club level in style. 5/10
(use Zidane as a reference & you can see how disappointing Raul
really was in the match & for his team)
FERNANDO TORRES: His price fell after the match against
France. Torres is young , rapid, competitive & strong, but he
needs to urgently solve how to not let goal chances escape.
Torres has a finishing problem in front of goal, a characteristic
that shows itself in the Spanish League weekly. If he can improve
this aspect he will be a great player & serve Spain well. To call
him a "crack" player at this point is still premature & not
certain. 7/10
MARCO SENNA: Good but did´nt show us all his powers, which
include attacking football & powerful shooting at goal. Was given
a more defensive role & did well. His age may halt his progression
in the Squad, except if he continues to play well. 7/10
ALBELDA: Played little as his style may not have been compatible
with the creative flair. Should have played in the 2º half against
France to destroy play & restrain. Experience & very solid. His age
may reduce his future role in the Squad in preference to the young
upcoming players. 6/10
JUANITO: Played against Saudi Arabia & scored. Solid defender
who did his job well. Played too little to really examine. 7/10
CAÑIZARES: Long time keeper that did his job when he played.
Will disappear to club football & retire. 7/10
REINA: Did´nt play & should have. Obvious replacement for
Cañizares & possibly Casillas. Will be Spain´s future keeper
battling with Casillas & Barcelona´s Victor Valdes
IÑIESTA: Young midfielder who plays like a 30year old. Will
be one of the big future players of the Spanish Team & will
now begin his contribution for the next Euro Cup & World
Cup. A star in the making, that played very little. 7/10
LUIS GARCIA. A good team player that always gives his
100%. Perhaps played out of position & that lowered his
game, but disappointing in the definition of goal chances.
His continued presence in the squad will depend on his club
form. Expected more. 6/10
JOAQUIN: The most overrated winger in Spanish football
in years. A annoying tendency to play inward from his wing
which tramples others. Disappointing considering his
experience ( missed the penalty against Korea in last WC),
missed chances & sinned of individual play. Not a sufficient
player for international level. 5/10
REYES: Bright young hope that will develop into an authentic
star. Surprised he was relegated in preference to Joaquin. Quick,
attacking , excellent crossing & goal. With experience will be
like his teammate Cesc - future International World class
player. Fundamental in future Spanish sides. 7/10
ANTONIO LOPEZ: Was relegated with the inclusion of Pernia.
Young & talented, great left back with excellent attacking power
& free kicks. Played the Arabia match & did well. Will be the future
Left Back player. 7/10
SALGADO: Played against Arabia & showed the little match practice
that he had towards the end. Is the natural right back over Ramos
(who is a central defender), & may have contributed with his experience
a lot more than Ramos. Played his last WC & will concentrate at club
level, except if he plays exceptionally & maybe called up again to
add experience. 6/10
MARCHENA: Played against Arabia & did his job. His continued
contribution to the Spanish side depends on his club form. 6/10
Lastly , there are young players that will be called up to join the
"New Generation" of Spanish Squad players soon : NAVAS ( Seville),
RAUL GARCIA ( Osasuna)...just to mention two.
Here is my possible future "new look" Spanish Squad:
Casillas ( Reina or Valdes)
? ( a new talent to be found) - Ramos - Puyol/Pablo - A.Lopez
Cesc - X.Alonso - Xavi ( or Iñiesta)
Navas (Seville player) - Torres ( if he betters) - Reyes
SFS would love to read your views & comments. Pls participate. Tweet
6 comments:
Bad luck. Next time.
Shock to see Spain go out. I thought they were going well. Perhaps your right inexperience lost Spain in the end!
Sad, but certainly not shocking result. Spain have followed the same pattern for every World Cup final: delirious predictions of conquest based upon easy triumphs in an easy group, followed by deflation in the knock-out rounds caused by some absurdity.
As you note, this squad has a lot of potential. Fortunately, they are young and have time on their side to improve.
It also remains unclear who will take over as coach when Aragones departs. That's also equally crucial.
Hi Lena, great to hear from you.
Totally correct, about the coach. It seems here that Luis Aragones is making manoeuvres to try & continue in the job, after he said, publically before departing to Germany, that he would leave. I hope he stays.
Thanks & cheers lena!
Spain controlled the match for the first 30-35mins and then dropped concentration, watching Henry more so than any other attacking player like Ribery or Malouda, so Vieira found Ribery and the Spanish defence didn't account for it. But had Spain come out for the second half with the same resolve as the first, then they would seek to control the game for the first 30-35mins again and pushed France back. As it was, no one was superior in that period of the second half, and it took a moment of an unbelievable feiging Henry to get an advantage so late in the game. It seemed Spain had lost some of their edge by then, Raul, Torres and Villa not doing that which was expected of them given their current reputations in the tournament. Bad luck made the ball come off Ramos, who I thought was superb at right-back. After that Spain pushed up for an equaliser and were horribly caught with Cesc dispossessed.
For my penny's worth, Alonso was playing sweet passes, and I'm being impartial. He's a Liverpool player but I watched him when he passed and it was accurate, long or short and it spread the play away from danger quickly. Cesc is young and keen, with an eye for pases forwards thrive on. Pablo did a good job at the back, where they stifled Henry throughout with the offside trap. But the concentration was lower in the second half and Spain were made to pay. I know much is made of Joaquin, particularly at Liverpool, I'm still to be convinced although he has good talent to be a top player in the world. As for the game, who knows? Maybe Albelda could have come on and pushed Alonso to attack, Joaquin and Cesc on the flanks, Torres and Villa upfront. But again, I think it was concentration and not the subs that brought down Spain's game.
RedsMan.
Thanks Redsman for your insight & accurate analysis. I´ve already made my thoughts known on your site
http://elitefootballtalk.blogspot.com
Hear from your soon
Cheers
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