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June 15th, 2008 | By: elisa | 18 Comments »

It’s good to see that the manager and the team are happy about the win, but at the same time, being very realistic about our performance and the very difficult road ahead in the tournament.

Nino press conference

El Niño Torres - On the Performance vs Sweden:

“…Sweden was an early warning for what awaits us,” he added. “Teams will try to prevent us imposing our style, they’ll try to choke the supply to and from our most important players and we’ll have to work for victories. So what I thought was vital was that we showed we have tactical variety. The two goals were completely different and so were our tactical approaches to playing Russia and Sweden.”

Well said Fernando, we need to constantly take risks and modify our style as teams continue to study our styles and performances.

Joan Capdevila - Keeping His Feet on the Ground:

“The thing is that, in Spain, when we win a game of this importance and in this manner everyone at home will be talking as if we’ve won the tournament. It’s always been like that and probably always will be. But for the players, we know that now it’s time to put a lid on all that excitement and concentrate on getting back to high-quality hard work.”

The Old Man’s Reflections on the Game:

“There were 20 minutes against Sweden when the game was running away from us and we were stretched,” he pointed out. “But when we sorted it out in the second half I think that our stamina was better than theirs and all the running around they did in the first half caused them to tire. Seeing that, as I did against Russia too, was one of the most pleasing parts of the victory.”

Aragones may rest all of the players and bring in the subs for the Greece game. Possible line up:
Reina, Arbeloa, Albiol, Juanito, Fernando Navarro, Xabi Alonso, Ruben De La Red, Cesc, Cazorla, Guiza, Sergio Garcia — of course this is all tentative.

Some Interesting Stats:

* This is the first time that Spain has won the first two games in the group stages at the Euros. (Whodathunk?)
* Luis Aragones has one more victory to equal Javier Clemente’s record with the National team of 36 victories (Surprise, Surprise, Surprise)
* Luis Aragones has not lost a game with La Furia since November 2006.
* David Villa has 33 caps and 18 goals with the National team. (Super Villa~*)

Injury Update:

As stated in a previous post, Puyol and Santi Cazorla both have post traumatic arthritis of the foot. According to the team doctors, it’s not serious and will not prevent them from playing in the quarters. YES! Sigh of relief.

Patience…

Tags: Euro 2008

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Comments

By Eoin | June 15th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

David Villa can’t have 33 goals. 33 appearances maybe.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Robbie | June 16th, 2008 at 12:20 am

David Villa 18 goals….33 caps….Nando 16 goals…51 caps….viva espana!!!!

By Elisa | June 16th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

whoops my bad. doh. thanks guys.

By skeeter | June 16th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

CAPS arent goals EOIN!!! lol… David Villa is easily the best striker in the tournament

Posted from Canada

By Robbie | June 16th, 2008 at 2:01 pm

Yah,Yah….best striker?!!….but can he reproduce his form in the EPL ???

By Elisa | June 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

We don’t want him in the EPL. We want him to stay in Spain. His body and stature is not fit for the physical/power game of the Prem. Isn’t El Niño enuff? The Prem needs big boys like Negredo.

By Jason Lujan | June 16th, 2008 at 4:13 pm

Villa woud tear up the EPL just like most Spaniards who make the transition to a technically inferior league such as the EPL. However, it is not the same for players coming into the Primera i.e. Henry who struggle to adapt to players with more ability. EPL top 4 strong the rest are absolute shite week in and week out.

By Jason Lujan | June 16th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

Villa will probably stay unless Valencia want to sell him so I dont know what the big deal is?

By Timothy Lakefront | June 16th, 2008 at 5:22 pm

Also as a Valencia supporter, I absolutely want him to stay put. I didn’t want to sell him before the tourney started, and I certainly don’t want to now that it’s started. He’s been my favorite player in the world since he came to Mestalla. It’s good that everyone in the world is starting to catch up and realize his talent. That said, if he goes–dread the thought, it would be the first time I’d literally cry over a transfer–I don’t want him to stay in Spain. I don’t want him to play against/terrorize Valencia. If I had my choice, I’d want him to go to Arsenal or Liverpool and link up with Cesc or Fernando, respectively.

By Jason Lujan | June 17th, 2008 at 2:59 am

Agreed

By DeutschHans | June 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Great performance by Spain thus far. Respect !

By Timothy Lakefront | June 17th, 2008 at 6:16 pm

Beat Portugal! It is up to Espana and the Deutsch to knock out the two lamest teams in the tourney. I was upset at first to draw Italy, but there’s no other team I’d like to beat. Italy can park a van in front of the goal all they want, but as soon as Villa scores his first goal, they’ll have to take chances, and we’ll put it away.

By Greg | June 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm

No offense, but, “Lamest” teams? Given the way they’ve played, you want GERMANY to knock out PORTUGAL based on the fact that you feel PORTUGAL are lame, relative to GERMANY? What matches have you been watching?

By Porchetta | June 18th, 2008 at 6:41 am

Spagna will be bundled over by Azzurri this sunday,infact, we Italians fancy playing a team like Spagna more than others because your team is one-dimensional..just built on midfield..choke ur midfield and there will be goals because ur defence is hardly world class…
Toni will make u pay and will end up his goal drought with a double..
Forza Italia!!Tu sei tutta la mi vita!!

By Jason Lujan | June 18th, 2008 at 12:23 pm

HA ha what!?? Your team is old its like watchin the over 40’s playing a charity game. Your guys cant stop the midfield cause they cant catch up.

By Timothy Lakefront | June 19th, 2008 at 6:37 pm

i dislike portugal, alright Greg? is that ok with you buddy? and until today, portugal hadn’t lost a match, while germany lost one and needed a nasty free kick from ballack to beat lowly austria. what games are you watchin son? why don’t you keep it to yourself then, eh?

By Timothy Lakefront | June 19th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

porchetta, there’s really nothing to say. i just hope you have the decency to come on here on monday and eat your words. this time ur alzheimer-laden squad will need more than dirty elbows in the box to beat la furia roja.

By white is right | June 24th, 2008 at 10:34 am

luca toni had to shave his moustache off lol ooooo not so graaaande and braaaavo this time eh?

Posted from Spain