Stupendous Spain

Yes yes yes… Spana Jaya is through to the Final of Euro ’08.. viva Espana!!

I was watching in ecstasy at 2.30am in the morning (though my son is fast asleep, tired maybe from outing in City Mall earlier, and unable to join me for the match..again). So, again when Espana scored the first goal by Xavi Hernandez, I raised my fist and roared a ‘muted’ hooray.. as I don’t want to annoy and face the warth of my sleeping wife and also the neighbours so early in the morning. But I am used to this ‘muted’ and ‘animated’ actions of pure joy when my team scores (Liverpool that is…). Nice goal from Xavi – a poke from his leg and through Akinfeev legs.. yes!!!... what a stupendous goal that is!!

The Russian was actually very threatening in the first half and solid in defense. They forced a couple of great saves off Iker Cassillas, but he is up to the job. Well done Cassillas!! There were a few but dangerous chances for Espana also eventhough the Russians are man-marking Torres and Villa. Not one but two the minimum when Torres, Villa or Silva gets the ball. In my point of view, Guus Hiddink’s boys strategy is maybe to unshackle the Spaniards by using hard and rough tactics, so that they won’t be able to play their usual game of slick passing. The very same tactic used by the Russian against England some time ago in the qualification. Credit to the referee who is able to control the game and its flow, although there are a lot of tackles, especially from the Russians flying around. That works for the first 50 minutes..

I believe that when Spain scored early in the second half that took off the Russians spirits as their game becomes dodgy after that. Gone are the dangerous attacks seen in the first half.. their passes gone wayward most of the time. They tried to come back I believe but the damaged is done.. Torres seems to be able to make many chances near the goal as the Russians defending become very dodgy.. OOhhh, how nice if Torres had scored, only to be taken out and replaced 20 minutes before time.

In my point of view, Torres is still unable to adapt to Spain’s (or rather the Old but Magnificent Aragones) style, because at Liverpool, he is used to the fast attacking works employed by Benitez. He gets fantastic support from Gerrard and co. As for Spain tactics, they like to play around with the ball to open up chances, I would say a ‘calm and pateint’ type of play, just like Aragones himself. You could see that when the team try to use a fast game, you would see Aragones in the sidelines saying (maybe) ‘calm down, calm down’. Well, whatever it is, it doesn’t matter as long as Espana wins. Though I would love Torres to score many goals in the tournament. I hope he do it in the Final against the Germans.

Spain was actually very patient throughout the game and that paid off. Credits to Guiza and Silve who scored the other two goals and Cesc Fabregas cool passing, but I believ the harm is done when they got the first goal. The Russians unable to come back and that helped themselves to kill off the game.. Well, we saw the last of Arshavin’s blue tongue in the Final, eh?

So, we wait for the Final and hope spana Jaya beat the Germans.. at least that is the hope of many Espana people, fans, myself including Lab Papa and Rin-chan… yeah!!

Unscrew the Germans Spana Jaya!!! Score goals Torres!!!

(pics courtesy of Euro08 official website)