In the wake of Spain's exit from the world cup, there is a shared sense of expectation in their defeat. Could Spain really have given us a reason to dream? The Geek and Goodchristianboy report.
The veteran comforts the upstart
By The Geek
In a swift and cruel blow, France gave a final push off their rocking chairs to send Spain packing home in a 3-1 victory. The 'uncles' of Germany 2006 showed that old is gold with a dentures dropping comeback.
Before the tournament started, Secawan Bola ran a feature on World Cup underachievers, citing Spain and the Netherlands. Ironically, both teams have been knocked out in the last two days, proving one thing - we at Secawan Bola are geniuses (although any hood off the street would've been able to provide that assessment).
But despite possessing sensational quality on paper, Spain yet again reinforces the frailty of the Real Madrid buying policy - that big names is secondary to a team that ticks. With a team boasting Fernando Torres, Joaquin, Jose Antonio Reyes and Carlos Puyol, you would expect Spain to be there when the numbers dwindle, but they missed yet again, the quarters this time.
But at least they have the dignity of going home to an inspiring French victory led by the soon-retiring wizard Zinedine Zidane and not another Asian underdog.
SPAIN BLEW IT
By Goodchristianboy
Spain have blown it.
The stage could not have been set better for them to finally shake off their underachievers tag. While most of the other big group winners were entertaining dark horses, Spain had the mouth-watering crack at France. It was never going to take anything less than a major scalp before anyone would start taking Spain seriously, especially after their easy group games. And among the big names, what better name than France? The former champions had been nursing a cocktail ailment of low confidence, poor form, disinterest, inability to score and obvious signs of ageing.
And going into this match, many a commentator had bought into this belief, assured by what they had seen thus far that the Spaniards were overflowing with confidence and a new found self-belief while the French were beset by a host of troubles. It could not have gone any other way. Torres was on fire. Henry wasn’t. This was it – Spain had everything in place carve a new reputation.
And it all looked like happening when they won a penalty in 27th minute and striker David Villa slotted home. And then, just before the break, Franck Riberry would put the first dent into Spanish confidence and equalize for the troubled French. Prior to the match, perhaps the only thing the French had on their side was a small statistical advantage: Spain have never beaten France in a competitive game. At half time, that statistic was poised to be tested to the wire.
But it was never really tested, and the French finished the match going from strength to strength, beginning with a Patrick Vieira header from a Zinedine Zidane assist, and then finishing with a goal from Zizou himself. France would end the game clearly the more hungry side, the side that knew better what to do with whatever little possession they had. In the end, the tale of the tape says it all. Spain had only two shots on goal to show for themselves, and at this stage, playing what should be the very best, yet very seldom is, two shots on goal is many, many shots not good enough.
The post-mortem will have to be harsh, and Luis Aragones will have plenty of questions to answer. Perhaps Cesc Fabregas was fast-tracked too fast? Perhaps too many key players were rested in their final group game, and momentum was lost? Perhaps Spain’s star strikers have to be held accountable for firing blanks, or perhaps not firing at all?
Whatever - or whoever - the scapegoat, Spain are out of the world cup again, and the promise they showed in the run up has again fallen short when the hurdle got higher. Spain will perhaps always be underachievers. So strong domestically, so exciting on paper, and always so scintillating in the opening round, Spain have once again pulled off the biggest con job of the world cup. They have swindled millions of neutrals into fancying them, and they have fooled their entire football crazy nation into believing that this time it would be different. This time, nothing was different. They go home in shame as they’ve always gone home in shame. And for the rest of us, the world cup goes on without Spain, and everything is business as usual.
In a swift and cruel blow, France gave a final push off their rocking chairs to send Spain packing home in a 3-1 victory. The 'uncles' of Germany 2006 showed that old is gold with a dentures dropping comeback.
Before the tournament started, Secawan Bola ran a feature on World Cup underachievers, citing Spain and the Netherlands. Ironically, both teams have been knocked out in the last two days, proving one thing - we at Secawan Bola are geniuses (although any hood off the street would've been able to provide that assessment).
But despite possessing sensational quality on paper, Spain yet again reinforces the frailty of the Real Madrid buying policy - that big names is secondary to a team that ticks. With a team boasting Fernando Torres, Joaquin, Jose Antonio Reyes and Carlos Puyol, you would expect Spain to be there when the numbers dwindle, but they missed yet again, the quarters this time.
But at least they have the dignity of going home to an inspiring French victory led by the soon-retiring wizard Zinedine Zidane and not another Asian underdog.
SPAIN BLEW IT
By Goodchristianboy
Spain have blown it.
The stage could not have been set better for them to finally shake off their underachievers tag. While most of the other big group winners were entertaining dark horses, Spain had the mouth-watering crack at France. It was never going to take anything less than a major scalp before anyone would start taking Spain seriously, especially after their easy group games. And among the big names, what better name than France? The former champions had been nursing a cocktail ailment of low confidence, poor form, disinterest, inability to score and obvious signs of ageing.
And going into this match, many a commentator had bought into this belief, assured by what they had seen thus far that the Spaniards were overflowing with confidence and a new found self-belief while the French were beset by a host of troubles. It could not have gone any other way. Torres was on fire. Henry wasn’t. This was it – Spain had everything in place carve a new reputation.
And it all looked like happening when they won a penalty in 27th minute and striker David Villa slotted home. And then, just before the break, Franck Riberry would put the first dent into Spanish confidence and equalize for the troubled French. Prior to the match, perhaps the only thing the French had on their side was a small statistical advantage: Spain have never beaten France in a competitive game. At half time, that statistic was poised to be tested to the wire.
But it was never really tested, and the French finished the match going from strength to strength, beginning with a Patrick Vieira header from a Zinedine Zidane assist, and then finishing with a goal from Zizou himself. France would end the game clearly the more hungry side, the side that knew better what to do with whatever little possession they had. In the end, the tale of the tape says it all. Spain had only two shots on goal to show for themselves, and at this stage, playing what should be the very best, yet very seldom is, two shots on goal is many, many shots not good enough.
The post-mortem will have to be harsh, and Luis Aragones will have plenty of questions to answer. Perhaps Cesc Fabregas was fast-tracked too fast? Perhaps too many key players were rested in their final group game, and momentum was lost? Perhaps Spain’s star strikers have to be held accountable for firing blanks, or perhaps not firing at all?
Whatever - or whoever - the scapegoat, Spain are out of the world cup again, and the promise they showed in the run up has again fallen short when the hurdle got higher. Spain will perhaps always be underachievers. So strong domestically, so exciting on paper, and always so scintillating in the opening round, Spain have once again pulled off the biggest con job of the world cup. They have swindled millions of neutrals into fancying them, and they have fooled their entire football crazy nation into believing that this time it would be different. This time, nothing was different. They go home in shame as they’ve always gone home in shame. And for the rest of us, the world cup goes on without Spain, and everything is business as usual.
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