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Are we Peaking too Soon?

June 20th, 2006 | By: WC Bob | 24 Comments »

This is the Spain blog and this is World Cup football so how much rejoicing can we really allow here?

After the first set of two games, in my opinion the best teams in the tournament have been Argentina and Spain. We took apart a capable Ukraine team and showed a little moxy after fallling begind to Tunisia. Our offense looks sharpe (except for the finishing last night) and our defense looks to be playing well as a unit.

We haven’t lost in forever. What could be wrong?

There are some that might argue that we are peaking too soon. The opening round is the opportunity to work out the kinks and to build momentum for the knockout stage where the games will be more difficult and the pressure more intense. You want to save your energy and best play for the future rounds while taking care of business at the start of the competition.

I don’t buy this arguement. I think our team is both playing well and benefitting from a group that is a bit weak. Nothing wrong with that. We are taking advantage of our situation and we are delivering the results. That doesn’t mean we have already seen the best of our team. They can play better and I think that they will continue to work to do so.

What do you think?

Tags: Group H, World Cup 2006

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Comments

By grishy | June 20th, 2006 at 2:51 pm

A really weak group, I would say. Very good game agains Ukraine, but worse yesterday, due to the early goal of Tunisia. We can play better than yesterday!

But we won’t see more good games, specially in next rounds. Teams use to be very conservative, 1-0 is enough to pass.

One last thing, how can people say that Torres is a good player?! Oh God, yesterday lots of missed passes, missed goals… well yesterday and almost always.

Posted from Germany

By Roy | June 20th, 2006 at 4:46 pm

I’m afraid that, against a quality side, this team may wilt a bit under the pressure if it can’t poke in an early goal. Hopefully I’m wrong, but the first 70 minutes yesterday had shades of Paraguay in 1998: lotsa buildup, pretty decent approach work, zero goals. Fatal against the elite.

Posted from United States

By Roland | June 20th, 2006 at 4:57 pm

No! No, don’t start this shit. If we had lost or tied either of our games everyone would be saying what typical underachieving chokers we are.

So what if it’s a weak group? We’re dominating it, aren’t we?

No doubt, we’ll still be hearing this if we don’t beat Saudi Arabia by at least four goals - but I’m here to tell you, Spain is for real this year. I wouldn’t want to play them right now, not even if I was coaching Brazil.

Posted from United States

By TheImmortalOne | June 20th, 2006 at 5:11 pm

Yo have you had your head up your ass during the world cup? Torres is going to be the top scorer in this tourney just you wait. BTW its better to have had shots than none at all moron!!
And what the hell is it gonna take to stop all the critics from attacking spain. Man if we lose they call us chokers and if we win they say it was an easy team you beat and it took you like a 100 shots to score. Shut the f*ck up you bunch of parasites. I know what will shut the critics up.. Spain beating Brazil in the 1/4s thats what!! Mind you the critics will probably say that Brazils defence was shoite and we had it easy!!

F*ck Brazil, F*ck Germany, F*ck italy, F*ck Argentina, F*ck em all goddamit!!!!!!!!!! Go Spain kick some f*ckin ass!!!!!

Posted from United Kingdom

By abhishek | June 20th, 2006 at 6:21 pm

go spain go. i m an indian but a lifelong real madrid and spain supporter. raul is best, and i hope spain shrug off this tag of underachievers once and for all.

Posted from India

By patienceIsaVirtue | June 20th, 2006 at 6:36 pm

Spain is amazing….I think they play beautiful! Lots of heart…I want them to win…the way they played against Trinidad and Tobago showed heart and team spirit….Joga Bonita!!! YEAH!!!

Posted from United States

By Roy | June 20th, 2006 at 6:56 pm

I agree that the side is playing quite well together. But I’ve been down this road too often with promising Spanish sides to get too optimistic this early in the tournament.

Also, it’s Reyes time for Spain, he should be the first attacking option off the bench, not Raul.

Posted from United States

By margarida | June 20th, 2006 at 6:58 pm

Good team Spain.
I hope see you in the finals, you deserve it.

good luck Spain.
good luck Iberians

From an Iberian portuguese fan.

Posted from United States

By Fabio | June 20th, 2006 at 7:00 pm

I am afraid that the answer is a resounding “YES”. Remembr, Spain has a long history of choking. Until they show me that they can play well agianst a quality opponent, then I will begin to believe.

One thing is for sure! They are playing real good and are exciting to watch!!!

Posted from United States

By jag | June 20th, 2006 at 7:01 pm

I am selling 2 tickets Cat. 1 for Spain VS. Saudi Arabia

e-mail me at SonOfaJatt@hotmail.com

or call, Toronto 001 905 334 0601

140 pounds uk each

Posted from Canada

By Jaime | June 21st, 2006 at 1:40 am

ESPANA need to and will WIN this World CUP!! I live Sydney Australia though Parents from Spain Madrid,,, And All I here on the Spanish news is the Issues Spain has will ETA and Barca wanting to be separate from the rest of Spain… The WIN of the WORLD CUP will most probably help the Nation! Viva Espana!

Posted from Australia

By Katz | June 21st, 2006 at 3:29 am

Jaime, what the hell are you talking about? Here, in Spain we’re as usual… don’t fuck with things like this when here we’re talking about football.

Posted from Spain

By DrE | June 21st, 2006 at 3:53 am

Hey Katz, don´t be so rough with Jaime for saying that, that´s almost true and that´s the image we give to the rest of the world ( Jaime, Cataluña, not Barca, doesn´t want to be an independent country, they just want more privileges )

Leaving the off-topic apart : I still don´t think that Spain will pass the quarter-finals, no matter how great they play these first matches, if they defeat Brazil I´ll start to believe we can win the cup

Posted from Spain

By Jaime | June 21st, 2006 at 4:31 am

Thanks DrE!

Hey Katz,,, you sound like a little Fucking girl… ha ha ha

Check what the world thinks of Spains Issues on BBC News…

Dumb Fuck!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/991960.stm#facts

Posted from Australia

By Tara | June 21st, 2006 at 8:36 am

nope. spain’s squad has a lot of talents this year, and young ones at that. and not only in the starting eleven but even on the subs bench. raul is finding his footing again, and with a bit of experience fabregas will mature into an amazing player. one thing. does anyone agree with me that luis garcia acts like a clown? (no offense but he just gives me that impression)

Posted from Malaysia

By Carlos | June 21st, 2006 at 9:42 am

Damn… stop doubting Spain, will you guys? They’re gonna be playing in Berlin on 9 July, just wait and see!

Posted from Philippines

By Satheesh | June 21st, 2006 at 10:20 am

This Spain team is capable of winning the World Cup with quality and depth in every part of the field.

Spain can repeat the performance against Ukraine with France, Brazil, Germany…

Posted from India

By Haarf | June 21st, 2006 at 1:31 pm

I wish I were Spanish and not French this year

Think this team can go far if it keep playing that football.

Posted from France

By Carlos | June 21st, 2006 at 4:59 pm

Ah I sympathize with you Haarf. I’m a fan of Spain, but was really hoping for a better performance from Les Bleus this year. But then they seem determined to show us all that they deserved to be booed in Paris, eh?

Posted from Australia

By patienceIsaVirtue | June 21st, 2006 at 8:26 pm

I agree with Satheesh - and-Their feet work and movements are beautiful like the Spanish dancers and they play like a team, not a bunch of separate talents on the pitch.

Posted from United States

By Prisi | June 22nd, 2006 at 9:01 pm

Go spain.!!! Crush Saudi tonight….!!

Posted from Singapore

By Simon | June 23rd, 2006 at 1:32 am

I just hope the second squad are up to beating Saudi, as that would be pretty embarrassing if they lose….

Posted from Australia

By hansie | June 23rd, 2006 at 7:15 am

Relax everyone. We know it’s going to be a Brazil-Germany final. Mr. Sepp Blatter will ensure it.

Didn’t you watch the world cup 4 years back? If the Koreans weren’t so inept, then FIFA would have got the Brazil-Korea final it so desperately tried to set up.

Posted from United States

By Petrina | June 23rd, 2006 at 9:46 am

hahaha… Oh yeah, TheImmortalOne… i agree with you!

It will NOT be a Brazil-Germany final… i’m really hoping for Spain to excel this year. we all KNOW they damn well have the skills and they are bloody able to win.

Brazil is still able to screw up like how they did in the Croatia match. Didn’t everyone lose money on their bets for that game!

Posted from Malaysia

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