Tag Archives: Portugal

Spain: Making Up For Lost Time

No Carles Puyol, no David Villa – no problem…

 

In a European Championship long on drama but short on wow, Spain’s final emasculation of storied futbol powerhouse Italy extended a welcome exclamation point. But more importantly, Spain’s record-breaking third major international championship in a row did two over-arching things: (1) it put to rest the notion that La Furia Roja’s short, crisp and precise passing, quick, suffocating defense and intricate midfield-intensive possession game was so much more than it’s boring, negative reputation; and (2) it was a reverberating announcement to the rest of the world that the longest rule by any futbol side, club or national, would continue.

 

This was not the flashiest team to watch – ergo their reputation for being mundane and boring – and this clearly was not the team we’ve seen through the two previous editions that waltzed through the last European Championship and South Africa 2010, but this was the efficient, even-keeled team we’ve come to expect from a team headed by Vicente del Bosque. Not only has no team in European Championship history scored more goals, but no team has ever allowed fewer. In three major international tournaments across four years, La Furia Roja has not allowed a single score in any elimination game.

 

Stated simply, you can’t score on them; you can’t even get the ball from them. And what’s worse, not only do THEY know it, but so do their opponents.

 

Even in games in which Spain has scored one or no goals, they are so frustratingly suffocating as to be demoralizing. Need proof? Just ask Portugal.

 

If this is boring, then so be it, because Spain makes this work to perfection, and have created an international dynasty the likes of which nobody has ever seen in futbol. This may not be pleasing to watch, but neither was “Moneyball”, a way of playing baseball that received the same kind of negative response from insiders and observers yet in driving three teams to several world championships became the primary business paradigm of Major League Baseball. If the keepers of futbol are really paying attention, “tiki taka” futbol, as the Spanish style has come to be referred, should be the preferred paradigm worldwide for the next generation.

 

Spain’s label as classic and perennial under-achievers – a designation earned from having world-class talent and world-class ability to seriously challenge for international hardware yet figuring out some way of screwing it up for 44 years – has long since been put asunder. Their iron-fisted rule of international futbol for going on six years now makes their previous reputation seem like ancient history given their current master class the likes of which has never been seen.

 

Since being unceremoniously drop-kicked out of the 2006 World Cup, the national side that surly, intense former manager Luis Aragones and calm, laid-back current manager del Bosque have put together have simply been invincible. That’s because Aragones and del Bosque have instilled in Spain the one necessary trait that had been lacking those previous lost 4 decades: An undeniable believe in themselves and a refuse-to-lose quality.

 

It is quite clear that the whole that is La Furia Roja – though loaded with star-quality and world-class players – is greater than the sum of its part. Even without the aforementioned world-class players in Puyol and Villa, Spain managed to waltz through this tournament. Part of the reason they were labeled as boring and negative may be because they never gave the appearance of playing with any urgency – they always looked like they were just mailing it in. Such was the belief in themselves and confidence in their system: Lose Puyol and Villa? No problem. Just plug in Sergio Ramos and David Silva and soldier on.

 

The team everybody was expecting to meet Spain in the final, Germany, has now assumed the mantle of under-achievers. While having won international hardware more recently during Spain’s lost decades, in 5 of the last 6 international tournaments dating back to 2002 they’ve been expected to feast on international competition with their new wide attacking style that runs opponents to exhaustion. Yet every time Germany has gotten to the threshold of greatness they’ve been denied by some motivated upstart that chose that particular moment to play way above what was expected (Brazil in 2002, Italy in 2006, Spain in 2008 and 2010). This year was no different, with a German side hitting on all cylinders getting unceremoniously drop-kicked out of the tournament in the semis by an Italian side in disarray coming into the Euros yet finding some unknown form through 4 games.

 

So it was left to the Italians — with their quick-strike counterattack anchored by surging Andrea Pirlo and Mario Baloteli, and the past masters of the fabled lockdown defense known as catenaccio – to finally put an end to this boring football employed by the Iberians –

 

— Italy never stood a chance…

 

Spain clearly saved the best for last. Like a hawk picking apart a rat carcass, that La Furia Roja mechanically and methodically picked apart one of history’s three most powerful, successful and storied national sides so spectacularly and stunningly was nothing short of embarrassing.

 

In establishing what is clearly the longest running international dynasty, del Bosque set a record of his own. He became the first futbol manager to hit the trifecta: a club world championship (with Real Madrid), an international continental championship, and an international world championship. It’s about time we started mentioning del Bosque in the same rarefied air as Alex Fergusen, Alf Ramsey and Mario Zagalla.

 

Is Spain the best national side ever? This is a team loaded with star-quality and world-class players, what you expect historic national sides such as Brazil ’58-’62 (Pelè, Garrincha, Didi), Brazil ’68-’72 (Pelè, Jairzinho, Rivelino), Germany ’72-’76 (Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Mueller, Sepp Maier), Argentina ’78 and ’86 (Diego Maradona, Mario Kempes, Daniel Passarella) and France ’98-’00 (Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Lillian Thuram) to have. But while Spain has enjoyed the longest continuous tenure of winning of any of the aforementioned national sides, the national sides that Spain has had to beat, while good in their own right, don’t rise to the quality of the opposition those other international dynasties had to face…

 

…But go to South America two years hence for the 2014 World Cup and defeat the purveyors of la joga bonita on their home soil in the hemisphere that no off-hemisphere side has ever won, then the case for Spain as the best ever would be sealed.

 

– daveydoug

11. Portugal

What Went Right?  Surprisingly stout defense, not giving up a single goal during the group phase and only one their entire stay. Defensive organization, communication, discipline, reading of the game and anticipation was spot on. Even against the two best offenses on the planet, Brazil and Spain, Portugal never lost their defensive shape and never allowed themselves to get stretched thin. They were very physical at the point of attack and weren’t afraid to take people on. Rear flanks were just suffocating, giving their opponents no place to go. Defenders individually were good on their own; they didn’t need to defend in numbers or pack the back or center. As usual, goalkeeping was one the tops in the competition. Portugal got significant contributions from their bench. Most of all, they got to play North Korea. That more than anything is why they finished second in their group —

What Went Wrong?  — Because against everybody else their attack was one of the worst in South Africa. Do not be impressed by the seven goals they scored against the DPRK because THAT’S ALL THE GOALS THEY SCORED! Picking apart football excrement like the DPRK means nothing in the larger picture of their performance in this tournament. If it wasn’t for their defense Portugal wouldn’t have made it past the first week. No matter what approach they used or they were preternaturally awful. Couldn’t get anything going in the center or down the flanks. Conceded possession because they coughed up the ball way too much and allowed themselves to be dispossessed. Showed absolutely no direct or creative attacking quality. They moved around a lot on the attacking end and got the ball forward on long balls but not to any real concerted purpose. Played with absolutely none of the bite, heart, or refuse-to-lose mentality that characterized their last World Cup appearance. Worst of all, the front three players just plain stunk.

Who Stepped Up To The Plate?  This is the second consecutive World Cup that goalkeeper Eduardo has come to play. The backline from left to right of Bruno Alves, Ricardo Carvalho, Ricardo Costa and Fabio Coentrao was just stellar and needs to be recognized as one of the best in the tournament. Tiago and Pepe were a revelation in front of the backline. The defense got significant help when Paulo Ferreira, Miguel, and Duda came on as replacements.

Who Didn’t Show Up?  Leidson, Hugo Almeida, Danny – it didn’t really matter; none of their strikers were any good. Simao? Just don’t get me started. Cristiano Ronaldo has never played like the superstar he is for his club sides. Until this tournament he at least was useful and played well if not stellar. In South Africa he really wasn’t even that. It’s about time the national side or anybody else stop expecting Ronaldo to raise his game. If it hasn’t happened by now then it isn’t going to.

How Was The Coaching?  Carlos Queiroz is a wonderful and skilled ASSISTANT! Unfortunately he has proven he has none of the ability to lead a team.

Did They Finish Where They Were Expected?  They actually finished better, but we’ve already outlined why. Stellar defense aside, getting to the knockout round had virtually nothing to do with them.

Now What?  They can start by getting a new coach, somebody with some tactical know-how who will also bring an attractive attacking quality to a side bursting with midfield talent. Clearly there is quality football talent on the ground in Portugal, so harvesting new players is certainly not going to be a problem. That defense is a great foundation to build on. But for God sakes find a reliable finisher or two up front, something they haven’t had since Euro 2000.

South Africa Match Observations: Round Of 16, Part IV

Some random observations after the First Knockout Round:

Paraguay 0-0 Japan a.e.t. (5-3 pk): Discipline and distribution – two keys to both evenly matched teams that have made it farther than anybody expected. Paraguay was a little more physical, while Japan played off the ball carrier more than closed them down. Not very daring or adventuresome offensively early on, both sides were more tentative and just waited for each other to make a mistake in their own end to get chances on goal. Japan started to find space in the final third but manifested it by taking long shots just outside the penalty area. Paraguay used their height advantage by making attacking headway on set pieces, throw-ins and 50-50 balls, while Japan used their speed to make headway into the final third. Few opportunities for either team in the first half but nothing on target. After the half Japan started closing down Paraguayan players on the ball, as well as finding space in the center of the field to create an attack in the final third. Paraguay started to get the ball in the attacking end but their service into the box to their two big target men Barrios and Santa Cruz lacked quality. About two-thirds of the way through the game both sides opened up offensively and there was a lot of action in both penalty areas, but both sides managed to maintain their defensive shape. You just got a sense that whoever scored first was going to win – or the game was going to go to extra time and even penalties. To their credit, neither Paraguay nor Japan played it safe in extra time; both teams furiously attacked their opponent’s penalty (or as much as these two disciplined teams could). So no surprise that it ended after 120 minutes on p.k.’s. An unsatisfying ending to an unsatisfying game, but Paraguay gets through. Japan has nothing to hang their heads about; they played fantastic football throughout their entire stay in South Africa. Paraguay has done it with a suffocating defense like they have for over 12 years now, so they certainly have no reason to change anything about their play now that they are in the quarterfinals for the first time ever.

Portugal 0-1 Spain: The Battle of Iberia. Sublime combination passing on all sides of the pitch followed by early quality shots on goal by David Villa for Spain, who announced early on that they were going to build up their quality attack and test Portugal’s discipline in the back early on. This had the added benefit of keeping possession away from Portugal, which kept the ball away from Ronaldo, who had to spend a better part of the game chasing the ball as opposed to staying on his customary and comfortable left side. Portugal did have a significant height advantage, which they used to good effect on set pieces and 50-50 balls. The triumvirate of Tiago, Simao and Ronaldo were able to get the ball in the midfield and spread the Spanish midfield and defense on occasion, switching play from flank to flank and getting shots off albeit not on target. The better offensive buildup was by Spain, though. Portugal’s buildup was more a result of Spain sustaining possession to the point of moving too many men forward and then Spain losing their concentration, with Portugal taking advantage (but still no real quality shots on goal or an inability for their front players to get an end on service). Not exactly clear why Hugo Almeida stayed on the pitch for four Portugal fixtures; he was practically useless up front, so he was replaced by Danny, who moved more to the left while Ronaldo played more centrally. Fernando Torres had a tough time finding his shot, also, so he was replaced by Fernando Llorente, who started making quality shots on goal from the jump. Things began warming up for Spain because for whatever reason Portugal was giving up way too much possession. That was pretty much the primary reason why Villa finally scored off of a patient buildup by Spain (with a big assist from Andres Iniesta, who was massively responsible for patiently holding the ball in the final third and finding his man despite being surrounded by Portuguese defenders). Such precise passing by Spain had Portugal just kind of running all over the place, keeping them from having any decent amount of possession. In the waning minutes Portugal just pounded the ball in the final third, hoping that somebody would get on the end of it. A red card on defender Ricardo Costa put the kibosh on their hopes. Outside of opening up a can of whupass on the worst team in this tournament, this was a rather mundane performance by Portugal and Ronaldo, who continues not to be the prime-time player he needs to be on the national stage. It will be interesting to see how Paraguay’s defense handles the patient creativity of Spain.

– davvydoug