Wow you are starting to sound like a dutch guy:grin: I think 2004 must have been one of your worse tournaments in recent history.
Lol at finding tiki taka boring, how about blaming Spains ( or Barcas) opponents for parking the bus. I think games would be more entertaining, for some of you, if the opposing side actually came out of their goal line. Having said that this Spainiard team seems weeker than that of WC & last euro. I find 3 main reasons for that: 1st, Puyol is out with injury forcing Ramos to play CB. Ramos has done a formidable job at CB but the problem is the RB position. Arbeola is getting killed out there, it seems to me every attack initiates from that side. 2nd, the decline of Xavi. As a Barca fan it saddens me to say so but he isn't looking fresh and looks slower. The maestro is getting old 3rd, Villa is out. This guy always shows up for Spain and his goals are missed greatly. On the pisitive side I like the emergence of Jordi Alba. Look for him next season at LB for Barca, it looks like we found a replacement for Abidal. My .02 P.s I miss Luis Aragones as coach.
Exactly arno. Another thing people don't consider often is it's not Spain's fault that opponents can't hold the ball as smartly and properly as they can. When opponents step on the pitch against Spain, you know that Spain(Just like Barca in a way) will fight 110% to win that ball back if they ever lose it and then it will take quite a bit for you to win the ball off them. On the other hand, the opponent usually does something stupid in terms of playing dumb passes, having one player hold onto the ball too long or playing the ball long and then losing it. All of that then gives Spain possession again and they can play "tiki taka" as long as they want. It's up to the opponent to play smart, hold onto the ball properly and make the most of their counters.
I love it though - what skill it takes and movement off the ball is spectacular. It is the same style I teach my teams, though the passing thing has yet to sink in with the younger they all want to go one on one. DD
If you are going to correct her at least come out with someone hotter than the Italian chick. Damn...
My goal wasn't to post a pic of someone hotter than the Italian chick. That would be pretty foolish and a waste of time since Italian chicks are some of the most beautiful to walk the earth. My goal was merely to post a pic of a lovely English lass as opposed to the lazy pic he or she posted of the male English fan to counter the one of the beautiful female Italian English fan.
Okay that's cool. Just personal preference then. I just like Del Bosque (as a manager and a person outside of the pitch) and I wondered if you had something against his coaching style as opposed to Aragones. Granted Aragones laid the groundwork and deserves most of the credit for what Del Bosque took to the next level.
England is really struggling to maintain possession. It seems inevitable that Italy will eventually put one in given how many chances they have had, but it just hasn't happened thus far. Balotelli in particular has had a couple of opportunities to score, but hasn't converted.
The first draw in the last 15 games of the tournament. The first goalless game of the tournament, too
Extra time should be fun. Germany is sitting pretty with their opponent going to extra time and with the extra days rest.
