WC2010 Group H - Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

22 people there

I think you can just about see Pedro standing beside Llorente(?)

My count is 22, including Del Bosque, who's missing?

Tomasz Kuszczak - Grzegorz Wojtkowiak, Michał Żewłakow, Kamil Glik, Dariusz Dudka - Sławomir Peszko, Rafał Murawski, Adrian Mierzejewski - Jakub Błaszczykowski, Robert Lewandowski, Dawid Nowak.

Poland line-up for today's game - way too attacking and Dudka as LB
Del Bosque said that Spain is playing against us, because we are similar to Switzerland (as organized and defensive minded team - I assume). We are totally different team right now

Casillas, Arbeloa, Puyol, Pique, Capdevilla, Xabi Alonso, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Silva

Hopefully we will be able to threaten Capdevilla a few times, our right wing is strong.

Already 2:0 - first Villa finishes nice Iniesta pass, second is scored by Silva, after great passes by Xavi and one more player.

Pedro replaced Iniesta, 5 minutes before half time. He didn't look badly hurt though, maybe some really minor injury, no risk needed.

If Iniesta just made that pass to Cesc you guys would be creaming in your pants.

is it 6:0 already?

6:0
And we even didn't injure one Spanish player seriously...

Time to get out the family tree and look for some spanish ancestors I can claim allegiance to.

Spain own most european teams cos they can keep the ball so much better. But Africans are more athletic and south americans keep the ball a lot better. So im not bothered by results like this.

L r dd wrote:Spain own most european teams cos they can keep the ball so much better. But Africans are more athletic and south americans keep the ball a lot better. So im not bothered by results like this.

Any of the players in their midfield has a better final ball than any in the English team. That they can score against anyone and keep the ball so well. Only Brazil could keep a clean sheet against them.

USA beat them 2-0. They're not great against non european teams. Gerrard, Lampard, Lennon, Barry maybe is not as strong as their midfield but it's not weak and on it's day can cause problems. But we'd face same problems they'd keep the ball for such long periods the players could get frustrated or tired and lose their concentration. But if we went infront we'd beat them IMO. Just when it's 1-0 to Spain it's almost impossible with their ball hogging.

I am impressed, we will have a hard time beating them. Or avoid getting beaten...

Spain

Wow, just watched the highlights but the goals were stunning. Do Spain ever score an ugly goal?

The two passes by Iniesta for the first two goals were simply orgasmic. As was Xabi Alonso's for Cesc.

stinger wrote:6:0
And we even didn't injure one Spanish player seriously...

iniesta is injured now, isn't he?

Just seen the goals - the build up for Silva's goal was absolutely top draw!

Spain are definately my second team, you can't not love them, they play football how it should be played.

And Pedro is awesome

Luis wrote:Just seen the goals - the build up for Silva's goal was absolutely top draw!

Spain are definately my second team, you can't not love them, they play football how it should be played.

And Pedro is awesome

I have to agree with you. Spain is one of my favs.

L r dd wrote:USA beat them 2-0. They're not great against non european teams. Gerrard, Lampard, Lennon, Barry maybe is not as strong as their midfield but it's not weak and on it's day can cause problems. But we'd face same problems they'd keep the ball for such long periods the players could get frustrated or tired and lose their concentration. But if we went infront we'd beat them IMO. Just when it's 1-0 to Spain it's almost impossible with their ball hogging.

But it was without Iniesta and Silva. Surely you saw yesterday how vital those two are.

USA was mssing tom bradley as well

L r dd wrote:USA was mssing tom bradley as well

Who is that?

I don't think his name is Tom Bradley, (something Bradley, coaches son) but he's the American creative midfielder. I think he plays in the Bundesliga.

former Heerenveen player michael bradley... If he can play as an attacking midfielder he would be a dangerous player. He plays right now for Moenchen Gladbach

Oh yes, well, I'm sure he's amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing.

Man for man Spain will always be superior yet you still lost. Owning european teams with or without Iniesta and Silva doesn't change anything. Im sure in the world cup you'll miss players for some games. Against most teams it wouldn't matter. But im not sure Spain's superiority is there against the non european teams. They don't have the mental view of europeans. Some teams almost give up against Spain they know they wont have the ball cant gear near it they feel inferior. Argentina did pretty well against Spain. USA beat Spain. South Africa almost beat Spain. Brazil im sure would do well. Then in europe nobody even got a draw against spain.

This is the biggest load of shit I've ever heard lerd. Who cares if USA beat Spain? Spain beat England, Spain won Euro 2008, Spain are the best team in the world right now and are rightly favourites for this tournament.

You're kinda missing my point luis

L r dd wrote:You're kinda missing my point luis

You're trying to make Spain's achievements seem not as impressive because they 'hog the ball' against European teams, it doesn't make any sense

I am saying they don't fair as well against non european teams for footballing and mental reasons. This is backed up by results and performances.

USA is the only game they've lost in how long? This hardly backs up your point. They may not have played that well against Argentina or South Africa but they still won. Isn't this what you praise England for, playing shit but still winning?

Sure they won. But this was Argentina playing in Spain. A Argentina side that had been terrible. Spain beat France in France with much more ease probably England also. South Africa was after extra time and they were close to losing. I cant recall that for a european team with Spain. This is clearly a difference. Im sure Spain could beat poland 6-0 everyday with different players playing. But they don't have the same aura for non european teams i explained why i think thats the case.

I really don't buy into this arguement but I guess we'll see when they play Chile and Honduras wont we