SPAIN WINS 0 - 2 FINLAND | GROUP I WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFIER

Tonight World Cup 2014 Group I qualifier with Finland hosting Spain. The Spanish Football National Team comfortably won an awkward & sticky Finland team 0 - 2. Big step for Spain towards securing the Top spot of their Group & thus allowing them to automatically qualify for Brazil 2014. Group second placed France also helped out drawing 0 - 0 with Georgia & thus allowing Spain to open up a 3 point gap. 

Spanish National Selector & Coach Vicente Del Bosque surprised many putting on Iker Casillas as the starting goalie over the in form Victor Valdes. A decision which I personally do not share & that will keep the debate going on back in Spain. Del Bosque also surprised putting on Atletico de Madrid midfielder Koke ahead of Arbeloa as right back. But these decisions overall will not be much talked about as firstly, Koke put in a good performance, Spain won & Finland did not trouble the Spanish goal enough to test out Casillas.

Spain played their ball dominating Football while Finland put 10 men into defence & awaited counter-attacking opportunities. This type of tactical set-up lead to a "boring" & "frustrating" match to watch as Spain kept smashing into the Finland wall. The home team did have "runaway" chances but failed to finish & were extremely inaccurate.

The two goals for Spain came primarily from the superior quality of the Spanish players & team which were rewarded for their consistency. The first goal came in the 17th min when  Cesc Fabregas found Jordi Alba who scored. The second came late in the game when substitute forward Alvaro Negredo receive a ball from another substitute Jesus Navas in a 85th min counter-attack that was converted by the Manchester City player. 

In conclusion, not a brilliant game, nor beautiful to the eye, but a victory that gives three important & value points keeping Spain top of Group I

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SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM LIST FOR FINLAND - CHILE MATCHES

The Spanish Football National Team Selector & Coach Vicente Del Bosque handed in his list of players for the upcoming 2014 World Cup Group qualifier against Finland & the International Friendly against Chile.

The novelties, or news catchers,  are the inclusion of three Atletico de Madrid players: David Villa, Mario Suarez & young Koke. Apart Real Sociedad defender Iñigo Martinez & Isco retain their spot in the Spanish National Team.

Here is the full list of players:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Reina (Nápoles) & Victor Valdes (Barcelona).

Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa & Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Iñigo Martinez (Real Sociedad), Raúl Albiol (Napoles), Jordi Alba (Barcelona) & Nacho Monreal (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Koke & Mario Suarez (Atlético de Madrid), Busquets, Xavi, Cesc Fabregas & Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Francisco Alarcon 'Isco' (Real Madrid), Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal), Jesus Navas (Manchester City) & David Silva (Manchester City).


Forwards: Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City), Roberto Soldado (Tottenham), David Villa (Atlético de Madrid) & Pedro (Barcelona).

Spain plays Finland on the 6th of September & then flys of to Switzerland  for a Friendly against Chile on the 10th of Spetember.

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SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM | ARBELOA - PIQUE OPEN UP CLUB WOUNDS AGAINST FINLAND ?

It is the national Sport in Spain - not Football | Soccer - to forget the past & the achievements quickly & criticise the failures in the present. The draw 1 - 1 by Spain with Finland has been received as a defeat by some observers & of course has unleashed the wagging tongues of criticism.

My intention is not to participate, but will inform on stories coming out today that highlight the discussion between Spanish International defenders Alvaro Arbeloa & Gerard Pique after the Finnish equalizer by Pukki in the 78th min.

The TV images show conversation, but the press today expose a heated argument. Alvaro Arbeloa was certainly not at his best with his coverage or "coordinated" in the Finnish equalizer, this is visible. However, Pique reprimanded Alvaro & apparently placed the error & the cause of the goal on the shoulders of Arbeloa . The discussion is written was "heated". 

This has lead some to highlight that the "rivalry & wounds" of the Real Madrid & FC Barcelona "clasicos" are still open & there exists a delicate balance at the National Team. Past stories from media say that Arbeloa, along with Xabi Alonso, are not to well regarded by the FC Barcelona players, after the two mentioned - according to the Barça players - showed excessive physical play & words during the numerous head-to-head Real Madrid - Barça clashes.

If this is true Coach del Bosque will have some work to do. Although I do think that the "on field interchange of opinions" is an habitual exchange between defenders of any team & under the circumstances,  of seeing how a clear victory slipped through the Spanish fingers, perhaps emotional. Arbeloa could have done more, or should have been more alert, but looked at closely, it is a collective defensive & team relaxation.  Experience shows that the Spanish National Team suffers theses late match lapses, perhaps this is the area that needs a rethink & solution.

Now the objective is France next Tuesday. To achieve it, Club rivalries must be put aside for the good of the collective, or else, if what some highlight is true, there will be difficulties for Spain in Paris.

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SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM PHOTO 2013

Found this picture of the Spanish National Football Team that started yesterday against Finland in their Group I World Cup 2014 qualifier. Posted thinking that it may delight the  readers & fans around the World.

SPAIN LINE-UP TEAM PHOTO vs Finland March 2013

Line up:
Top: Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Busquets, Pique & Valdes
Bottom: Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Cazorla & Jordi Alba

The match ended in a 1 - 1 draw. Spain must win France next Tuesday at Paris if they are to qualify directly for Brazil 2014. If not Spain will have to win a place in the Euro "best second placed" qualifiers, always dangerous & a situation best to be avoid.

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WORLD CUP QUALIFIER GROUP I RESULT | SPAIN 1 FINLAND 1

Spain ended their Group I 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifying match tonight in a 1 - 1 draw result against Finland. Not the result expected nor was it wanted as Group rival France defeated Georgia 3 - 1 & go top spot of the Group with 10 points , 2 more over Spain with 8 points. This puts unwanted pressure on Spain & into a must win situation when they meet France next Tuesday in Paris. 

The question must be asked,  & hopefully analysed by the Spanish Coaching team; what effectiveness does having 85% of ball possession give the Spanish team along with + 15 corners & + 20 shots at goal that ends with only one goal to show for it & with Finland equalizing? 

This is a recurring problem with opponents having studied the World & European Champions & finding an antidote to their familiar game. The obsession of Spanish Coach Vicente Del Bosque to play without a true forward ( Number Nine ) works sometimes but its novelty effect has gone. The rivals ( especially lesser on paper ) choose to put 10 men in their defensive line to "comfortably watch" time after time Spain crash into their wall. In a slip or lack of concentration opponents counter-attack to try their luck. Unfortunately while their rivals study Spain, the latter seems to forget experience from past rivals & fall into the same trap again & again: letting go of clear victories with their opponents reaching the Spanish goal square once & scoring ( sometimes more). 

The first half was 90% Spain, but it was frankly boring & frustrating as the National side got nowhere. Scoring goals is the objective of Football & the reason for winning & Spain was null with both.  

The second half saw Spanish Coach Del Bosque change Cazorla for Pedro to open the wings & it seemed to help. From a fixed play 100th capped Spanish defender acting as Captain tonight Sergio Ramos headed the opening goal in the 49th min. It seemed everything was back on course & following the script,  but as seen many a time before, Spain did not finish off & tie up things & in a lapse allowed Finland to take a bet & counter, a bet that paid dividends as they equalized via Pukki in the 78th min.

This shook Spain into reacting as they needed to win to be able travel to France at least in equal Group classification terms. A number 9 was brought on with Negredo & Mata to find some alternatives & depth. It nearly worked as Spain came close had it not been for the determined Finnish defence & their goalkeeper. Nerves, anxiety & frustration was the price paid towards the end for Spain for failing in effectiveness earlier. Touching the ball & having possession 85% of match time means nothing if you cannot score & score well to knock out your "lesser" opponent.

Special mention to Andres Iniesta who was brilliant & deserves acclaim & Sergio Ramos for his 100th cap & solid performance with goal included. Lastly, congratulations to Finland which knew their limited capacities, their strengths & kept to their game plan. In the end Finland was super effective with 15% of the ball possession. Now this needs some study by Spain.

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WORLD CUP 2014 | SPAIN vs FINLAND | POSSIBLE STARTING 11 TEAM LINE-UP FOR SPAIN

Tomorrow the Spanish National Football Team plays the first of two important 2014 Brazil World Cup Group I qualifiers. Their opponents will be Finland & they both will play in the Northern city of Gijon where the Spanish squad was greeted tonight by 17.000 local fans who watched the training session.

Spanish National Selector & Coach Vicente Del Bosque has already said publicly that FC Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes will start ( stepping in for the injured Casillas ) along with Club team-mate David Villa. However Del Bosque may have shown all his cards & his strategic field placement & preference of playing without a true Nº9. The training session highlighted 11 "marked" players which could make up the starting 11 line-up for Spain against Finland tomorrow night. The prediction is:

Valdes; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Cazorla, Busquets, Iniesta; Silva, Cesc & Villa.

This is speculation,  although local Football observers say that it is a good expected fit.

Tomorrow will also be special for Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos who will enter the 100 cap Club for Spain. Tomorrow will be his 100th game that the defender puts on "La Roja" ( The Red shirt). Congratulations.

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EUROPEAN U-21 GROUP CLASSIFICATION: SPAIN 1 - FINLAND 0

The Spanish U-21 National Team managed a hard earned & important
1-0 victory over a very defensive Finland side in their Group
classification match. The Finns played a hard game which made
Spain’s ball control strategy & game difficult in finding the end
objective which only came in the 72nd minute when MICHEL
scored the winner.

Spain now looks forward to its game against Holland who share the
top spot in the Group as both teams battle for the direct ticket to
the 2011 European Championships in Denmark & to secure a place
in the 2012 London Olympic games.

Details:

Spain 1: Asenjo, Azpilicueta, Kiko, Laguardia, Canella; Gullón
(Míchel, min.59), Parejo (Fran Mérida, min.85), Javi Martínez,
Capel; Herrera & Joselu (Adrián López, min.45).

Finland 0: Hradecky; Nikkari (Sumusalo, min.44), Kauko, Arajuuri,
Raitala; Toivio, Kolehmainen, Hjelm, Ojala, Mannstrm (Pelvas,
min.81) & Pukki (Kangaskolkka, min.72).

Goals. 1 - 0. Míchel, min. 78.

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