“Since the Brazil team of 1970, I can’t remember a side that thrashed and thrilled in virtually all its games – the closest thing to that I have seen is this Spanish team.” (José Sámano, El País) When world and European champions Spain play Portugal for a place in the 2012 European Championship final on Wednesday night, part of me will be rooting for Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese. And if I don’t punch the air when Andrés Iniesta (or one of the other seemingly countless pixie-like midfielders) scores Spain’s first goal, it’s because I’m bored of tiki-taka. First of all, I should explain that I deeply admire what Spain have achieved over the last four years. Having struggled for … [Read more...] about Why I no longer love Spain’s tiki-taka
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Ronaldo plans to cap a magic year by sinking Spain
Cristiano, nos vemos pronto (“Cristiano, we’ll see you soon”) screamed the front cover of Marca on Friday, such was the confidence that Spain would brush aside the French in Saturday’s European championship quarter-final and meet Ronaldo’s Portugal in the semis. And brush them aside they did, with little difficulty, despite La Roja’s unconvincing win in the final group game against Croatia. The France team – which before the 2-0 defeat to Sweden in their final group game had been on a 23-match unbeaten streak – produced very little in the game. Any hope for the French disappeared after the Sweden loss, when dressing room clashes involving Hatem Ben Arfa and Samir Nasri were widely … [Read more...] about Ronaldo plans to cap a magic year by sinking Spain
Euro thriller against Croatia highlights Spain’s need for goals
It took a whole 88 minutes and a careful finish by Jesús Navas, but Spain have qualified from their group to advance to the quarterfinals and keep alive their dreams of winning three major international tournaments back-to-back. Just. The relief was palpable. Before the breakthrough came, with Italy winning against the Republic of Ireland in the tightly contested group, a Croatia goal would have sent the reigning European and world champions home. The Spanish TV commentators insisted that everything was fine and going according to plan, but a nation was biting its nails, hurling abuse at the screen and collectively holding its breath as Iker Casillas was forced to make two crucial … [Read more...] about Euro thriller against Croatia highlights Spain’s need for goals
Spain wary of over-familiarity in Euro 2012 campaign
On a balmy night in summer 2008, ‘San Iker’ Casillas ascended new heights of sainthood when he stopped two penalties against Italy in the European Championships. It was to prove a significant turning point for the Spanish national soccer side, which had previously gone out of three major tournaments in the quarter-finals on penalties – the World Cups of 1986 and 2002 and Euro '96 – curiously on the very same date, June 22. They of course went on to win the competition and two years later lift the World Cup in South Africa. The game and the tournament also signalled a more complete change of fortunes for La Roja, the national side that had always had an embarrassment of riches when it … [Read more...] about Spain wary of over-familiarity in Euro 2012 campaign
Copa del Rey final promises epic end to Spanish football season
Those of a poetic persuasion will find much to please them in the backstory to this year’s Copa del Rey final. Pep Guardiola’s visit to Marcelo Bielsa’s home in Argentina in 2006 and the ensuing 11-hour conversation prior to the former becoming a coach is now the stuff of legend. That Guardiola should end his glittering reign with a cup final against his mentor is most fitting. And though much of the focus prior to the game will be on the coaches, the monsters of their creation promise a truly outstanding spectacle at the Vicente Calderón on Friday. Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao played each other in the same fixture three years ago, a game Barça won fairly comfortably 4-1 against the team … [Read more...] about Copa del Rey final promises epic end to Spanish football season
La Liga: Real Madrid and Barça ponder life without Guardiola
Another La Liga season has ended, but you can be sure that many of this season’s themes will carry on into the next. It was a truly exceptional year for Spanish football and in much the same way that the top two have been pushing each other to new heights in the last few years, the Real Madrid and Barcelona rivalry will ensure more records are broken in the coming season. It is a fact that Cristiano Ronaldo was quick to admit in a recent interview with CNN: "I think we push each other sometimes in the competition, this is why the competition is so high. This is why Madrid and Barcelona are the best teams in the world because everyone pushes each other, not just me and Messi, but other … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Madrid and Barça ponder life without Guardiola
La Liga: Real Madrid’s away form is the stuff of champions
The last couple of weeks in the Spanish liga may have lost much of their tension after Real Madrid’s victory at Barcelona all but sealed the title race, but the season’s closing stages are still providing plenty of drama. When Madrid finally did secure the league title on Wednesday, the way they did so was utterly fitting. A 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao’s feared San Mamés reflected the side’s superb away form this season, which has seen them drop only seven points outside the Bernabéu. And of course, Cristiano Ronaldo was on the score sheet, heading in from a corner in the 50th minute after Gonzalo Higuaín and Mesut Özil each scored in the first 20 minutes. Ronaldo has been unstoppable … [Read more...] about La Liga: Real Madrid’s away form is the stuff of champions
La Liga: Tito Vilanova steps out of Barcelona’s shadows
As the curtain was raised on the liga season last summer, he was largely an anonymous figure known only by FC Barcelona aficionados, but one lone act would change that. As a melee that so often accompanies a Clásico broke out at the Camp Nou between the 22 men on the pitch, substitutes and technical staff, José Mourinho calmly strolled over and poked Tito Vilanova in the eye. The Barcelona assistant coach swiftly responded with a slap to the back of ‘The Special One’s’ head. Vilanova was no longer anonymous and while still in the background, his figure would loom large over Barça’s season, culminating in his appointment as the new head coach after four years of Pep Guardiola at the … [Read more...] about La Liga: Tito Vilanova steps out of Barcelona’s shadows
Pep’s legacy
When Pep Guardiola appeared before the press on April 27 to announce his departure as FC Barcelona’s head coach at the end of the season, he said he felt exhausted and “empty.” Four years leading the club had brought a record-breaking haul of trophies and made him perhaps the most respected coach in world football. But, as Guardiola admitted, “Four years at Barcelona is an eternity and I need to recharge.” His achievements during that time are undisputable: two Champions Leagues, three Ligas, and one (possibly two) Copa del Rey titles; the development of a homegrown youth side that provided Guardiola with 22 first-team players; and the employment of a short-passing, hi-tempo attacking … [Read more...] about Pep’s legacy
La Liga: Ronaldo banishes Real Madrid’s league jinx
Cristiano Ronaldo wheeled away from the goalmouth gesturing and shouting, “Relax, I’m here”, as the Camp Nou fell silent and all Madridistas breathed a collective sigh of relief. Of course he was, of course the man who has scored 42 liga goals this season was going to take care of it all, but so often, he and his side have not. This was José Mourinho’s 11th attempt at beating FC Barcelona since his arrival in the Spanish capital two years ago, during which time he had only succeeded once – in the Copa del Rey final last year. But with the Portuguese forward’s 73rd minute winner, Real Madrid were finally able to overcome their Barça jinx. Sami Khedira had put the visitors ahead after … [Read more...] about La Liga: Ronaldo banishes Real Madrid’s league jinx