Spain vs Holland, World Cup Final !!!

[Silva]

Spain only had 56% possession.

I assume your comments aren't biased by the fact that Spain won and you seem to be based in Portugal?

I am Portuguese. And to be honest, the only knock-out game where they've fully deserved to win was against Portugal, when they've could be winning by three long before Queirós started throwing the game away.
In all other games they were just hanging around for enough time to get a goal falling from the skies. I'll give a lot of credit to Villa for scoring them, but that's it.

This all comes down to how Spain won it. Completely classless performance, void of any interesting offensive manouvering. Simply put the opponent to sleep and luckly some chances will come. Not to say the Dutch were any free of guilt - Robben had more than one chance to end the game and he didn't and fouled way too much on yellow card situations, where playing more patiently on coverage would pay out.

 

[butchersapron]

I'm always a bit after the end of a big sporting competition.

Of course, the next one is happening a bit closer to home, so . And Scotland will be playing in that one

You sure?

 

[Kaka Tim]

Good, engrossing game.
Excellent goal.
Best team won.
Good world cup.

The dutch spitting their dummy was pretty pathetic though.

 

[1927]

I'm always a bit after the end of a big sporting competition.

Of course, the next one is happening a bit closer to home, so . And Scotland will be playing in that one

And Wales!!

 

[butchersapron]

I am Portuguese. And to be honest, the only knock-out game where they've fully deserved to win was against Portugal, when they've could be winning by three long before Queirós started throwing the game away.
In all other games they were just hanging around for enough time to get a goal falling from the skies. I'll give a lot of credit to Villa for scoring them, but that's it.

This all comes down to how Spain won it. Completely classless performance, void of any interesting offensive manouvering. Simply put the opponent to sleep and luckly some chances will come. Not to say the Dutch were any free of guilt - Robben had more than one chance to end the game and he didn't and fouled way too much on yellow card situations, where playing more patiently on coverage would pay out.

Their way of football is football, it's not the sort of football that interests me though. And it's not the planned catenaccio of Italy - it's just they're moral cowards.

 

[ericjarvis]

I'll get you blakey!

Go on then. What didn't he apply correctly?

He allowed multiple instances that could have been counted as violent conduct, let alone a number of yellow card offences he ignored. Fair enough it's nice to keep 22 players on the pitch. However, if the Dutch had one the Spanish would have had a good case for saying that by failing to correctly deal with De Jong and Van Bommel's serious fouls the match result was decided by wrong refereeing decisions. As it is the Spanish won anyway.

 

[Vintage Paw]

I am Portuguese. And to be honest, the only knock-out game where they've fully deserved to win was against Portugal, when they've could be winning by three long before Queirós started throwing the game away.
In all other games they were just hanging around for enough time to get a goal falling from the skies. I'll give a lot of credit to Villa for scoring them, but that's it.

This all comes down to how Spain won it. Completely classless performance, void of any interesting offensive manouvering. Simply put the opponent to sleep and luckly some chances will come. Not to say the Dutch were any free of guilt - Robben had more than one chance to end the game and he didn't and fouled way too much on yellow card situations, where playing more patiently on coverage would pay out.

Ah, here we have it again. They play football that gets results, but it's not the right kind of football.

 

[Gromit]

The Dutch played 'total' football tonight.

If by 'total' you mean kicking the opposition as well as the ball.

 

[butchersapron]

He allowed multiple instances that could have been counted as violent conduct, let alone a number of yellow card offences he ignored. Fair enough it's nice to keep 22 players on the pitch. However, if the Dutch had one the Spanish would have had a good case for saying that by failing to correctly deal with De Jong and Van Bommel's serious fouls the match result was decided by wrong refereeing decisions. As it is the Spanish won anyway.

All judgment calls. Not one of them ignoring the laws. Each of one them, in fact, applying the laws.

 

[butchersapron]

Ah, here we have it again. They play football that gets results, but it's not the right kind of football.

It's not - it's shit.

 

[Limejuice]

Crap game.

 

[Gromit]

It's not - it's shit.

Agreed. Just like when england won the Rugby world cup though pens.

 

[butchersapron]

Agreed. Just like when england won the Rugby world cup though pens.

That was equally shit. Next!

(That was a strategy to rely on a single strength rather than a negative approach anyway)

 

[treefrog]

You sure?

Absolutely. Their big match against england is being held in the stadium about 600m from where I live I'll be watching in person with any luck

And Wales!!

 

[Gromit]

That was equally shit. Next!

(That was a strategy to rely on a single strength rather than a negative approach anyway)

When Ghandi won by non violent resistance. Yawn.

 

[butchersapron]

Agreed. Just like when england won the Rugby world cup though pens.

Seriously, it was almost a decade ago. Don't let it scar your sporting psyche or anything.

 

[rekil]

Thank you Holland for that engaging insight into the Protestant Mind.

 

[butchersapron]

When Ghandi won by non violent resistance. Yawn.

When gandalf won what you yawner clown?

 

[Vintage Paw]

Wah! Wah! Wah!

Good on ya Spain.

 

[editor]

On the trillion to one chance that Wales finally - just for fucking once in my entire lifetime - qualify for WC 2014, I'm definitely going to Brazil!

 

[butchersapron]

When Ghandi won by non violent resistance. Yawn.

You're comparing Lawrence dallaligio to Gandhi? Have you thought this through?

 

[AKA pseudonym]

On the trillion to one chance that Wales finally - just for fucking once in my entire lifetime - qualify for WC 2014, I'm definitely going to Brazil!

um.. they are in the Homeless World Cup this year in Rio?????

 

[Lord Camomile]

You're comparing Lawrence dallaligio to Gandhi? Have you thought this through?

I think he's the only one who has.

 

[Silva]

Their way of football is football, it's not the sort of football that interests me though. And it's not the planned catenaccio of Italy - it's just they're moral cowards.

I don't care if they're "moral cowards" or deliberate . Some twenty/thirty years ago, this kind of displays by winning teams would push for rule changes (backpass rule, dangerous tackles, etc). Now, we'll have a bunch of pundits blabbering on the "wonderful Spain" instead.

Ah, here we have it again. They play football that gets results, but it's not the right kind of football.

I didn't mind one bit when Greece won Euro 2004 playing with 10 men behind the ball, since they were just playing keeping in mind their own limitations, winning two games (even spoiling the big party) against the hosts (which happened to be us) and doing a magnificent job of beating all odds and becoming what's one of the lowest ranked teams ever to win a major competition. Can't say the same of Spain, who has some of the best players in the world.

 

[sihhi]

I don't care if they're "moral cowards" or deliberate . Some twenty/thirty years ago, this kind of displays by winning teams would push for rule changes (backpass rule, dangerous tackles, etc). Now, we'll have a bunch of pundits blabbering on the "wonderful Spain" instead.


I didn't mind one bit when Greece won Euro 2004 playing with 10 men behind the ball, since they were just playing keeping in mind their own limitations, winning two games (even spoiling the big party) against the hosts (which happened to be us) and doing a magnificent job of beating all odds and becoming what's one of the lowest ranked teams ever to win a major competition. Can't say the same of Spain, who has some of the best players in the world.

Long live Greece! Greece in '04 were tremendous - completely untipped, completely ignored before and then a historic triumph.

Knocking out England-beating Euro Champions France, former finalists Czech Republic and home team Portugal 1-0 every time!

Until Greece beat Nigeria this year in South Africa, 2004 was the only time they had ever won a game at a championship!

 

[butchersapron]

Long live Greece! Greece in '04 were tremendous - completely untipped, completely ignored before and then a historic triumph.

Knocking out England-beating Euro Champions France, former finalists Czech Republic and home team Portugal 1-0 every time!

Until Greece beat Nigeria this year in South Africa, 2004 was the only time they had ever won a game at a championship!

You can take internationalism too far you know.

 

[butchersapron]

I don't care if they're "moral cowards" or deliberate . Some twenty/thirty years ago, this kind of displays by winning teams would push for rule changes (backpass rule, dangerous tackles, etc). Now, we'll have a bunch of pundits blabbering on the "wonderful Spain" instead.

No they wouldn't. Teams did win like this those decades ago. No panic. They won the tournament as set out. All glory to them.

 

[toblerone3]

New Zealand the only unbeaten team in tournament I think!!

remarkable trivia fact.

 

[goldenecitrone]

Fucking Si!!!!

Great win for Spain. Viva Espana!

 

[sihhi]

You can take internationalism too far you know.

Ha ha but world cup 2002 was special aswell.
Mighty polyglot (Italian, English, German and Turkish) son-of-a-gastarbeiter seamstress Ilhan Mansiz winning over the loopy Japanese fans to secure Turkey's 3rd place. The best ever finish by an Asian side at a world cup.

I felt bad for Robben - he wasn't a fouling rat unlike most of the rest of Holland, but the better side won.