SPAIN DEFEATS 0 - 2 ALBANIA | WORLD CUP 2018 QUALIFIER

Important victory away from home for Spain defeating a difficult Albania 0 - 2. The home team has improved immensely in the past years & had a very clear game plan to attempt halt the Spanish Football Team. Their ultra-defensive set-up only lasted until the 54th min when Spain finally opened up the Albanian defence.

The win puts Spain on Top of the Group table & puts all the pressure on the other 4 teams. 

Spain dominated the whole match with ball possession staying regularly around the 70% mark. The first half was frustrating as Spain could not score with a good Albanian goalkeeper & a solid well placed Albania with up to 5 midfielders. Their intentions were very clear, they placed only one player as forward. 

The outstanding players were Andres Iniesta & David Silvia, along with Vitolo. 

The opening goal for Spain came in the 54th min from a goalkeeper clearing mistake that found Vitolo who passed to Silva who in turn found Diego Costa to score. Spain then brought on Nolito & he scored almost immediately in the 62th min after nice individual play.

The only bad news for Spain was the apparent knee injury of Sergio Ramos who fell awkwardly & may have sprained his knee. Said this, the defender will need to undergo further examination to determine the fully extent of the injury.
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WORLD CUP 2018 | SPAIN DRAWS 1 - 1 AWAY TO ITALY

Spain drew away 1 - 1 against Italy in tonight's World Cup 2018 Group qualifier. Theoretically the two strongest teams of the Group where both will be fighting it out for the top position of the classification in order for a direct qualification. 

Spain showed two faces: the first half was the best seen of Spain in perhaps the last 6 years, while the second half Spain contracted into their own zone & allowed Italy the dominante. Perhaps the earlier psychical efforts made their impact on the Spanish players ate 2º half... unknown. What was seen is a more aggressive Italy after the substitution of Pelle for Immobile which gave the forward line more dynamite from the 60th min. In the end shared rewards with Spain at least going away with a point. This under the circumstances is not bad after all. 

Spain started with the following 11:

David De Gea; Carvajal, Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba; Koke, Busquets, Iniesta; David Silva, Vitolo & Diego Costa.

They started well & very aggressive dominating the play totally. Ball possession for Spain reached 80% !!!, plus the goal opportunities were being created easily. Italy suffered under the magical play of Iniesta & David Silva, a play which I personally have not seen of such level from Spain in the last 6 years. Problem? Could not finish off their chances. Said differently the lack of goal. A problem which would haunt the Spaniards again later in the game. 

The second half started as the first finished, & in the 55th min Vitolo scored for Spain after a mistake from Italian goalkeeper Buffon. However, Spain lost control of the game from this moment onwards.

Italy began dominating & creating more dangerous occasions. Spain had a sweet moment but Vitolo missed a clear goal chance that could have killed the match in Spain´s favour. This lack of goal converting capabilities punished Spain when in the 81st min De Rossi equalized via a penalty that Spanish defender Sergio Ramos caused on Eder.

Italy came back from the "dead" as they usually do in these occasions. A comeback deserved as the Italians fought hard to turn things around to their favour. Spain on the other hand allowed the victory to slip between their fingers & they will be disappointed.

However, looking at it relatively speaking the result could have been worst for Spain & this draw result is positive.

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SPAIN -PORTUGAL - IBERIAN FIFA WORLD CUP 2018 BID

SPANISH FOOTBALL SPORTS BLOG supports the
IBERIAN 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP BID

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