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Spanish Football at it’s Best.

May 28th, 2009 | By: Anthony | 34 Comments »

First and foremost I must apologize for my little hiatus from the blog, it’s been a somewhat uneventful month in regards to La Furia Roja and therefore I couldn’t find the motivation to write an article.

However yesterday’s events in Rome gave me more than enough inspiration to get up and running with this blog again. Obviously everyone knows about our triumphs in Austria/Switzerland last summer at the European Championships but that wasn’t the climax of the Spanish domination, in fact, that was just the beginning. Barcelona’s win may not be a direct reflection of the Spanish national team but it gives quite a clear picture of where Spanish football is headed and that’s only up from here.

The Catalan club triumphed in Rome with Messi and Eto’o grabbing goals to seal Manchester United’s fate but whilst both these players are not Spanish, the heart of the team was. Valdés, Puyol, Piqué, Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta were the Spanish players within Barça’s starting XI proving that homegrown talent is still the best talent.

Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a starting XI with very few England internationals further suggesting just why English football was and possibly still is in decline. If the top team in the country can’t even put out domestic players then there is an obvious problem. Last night definitely proved that skill is untouchable; Iniesta and Xavi pulled the strings in midfield with some mouth watering touches and they ran circles around United like they were the pylons in a practice drill.

Spain winning the European Championships and Barcelona winning the Champions Leauge are surely signs of what is about to come in regards to a Spanish takeover. Not only is this a good reflection on Spain and the talent we so clearly have, but also on La Liga and how it is definitely strengthening in terms of quality. I mean, Numancia beat Barcelona in the league this season and they were relegated finishing in last place, surely that says something.

To me what’s most impressive is Barcelona’s policy to develop local players and make them into the next superstars, not only from Spain but more specifically Cataluña!

Italian football has come and gone as we’ve seen both in the European Championships last year as well as in the Champions League this year and while English football is by no means fading, it appears that we’ve found a kink in the chain; an achilles heel if you will. English style football with their long-ball, rough and tough type play may have previously worked, but as you saw yesterday, beautiful fútbol always will prevail!

Sure Manchester United weren’t at their best, but how can you not give credit to Barcelona? An absolutely perfectly played match, Spanish style. From their manager in Pep Guardiola to the core of their team, Barcelona are a Spanish team through and through and this will be a key to Spain’s success during the upcoming Confederations Cup as well as the World Cup in a years time.

The biggest domestic honour and the second biggest world footballing honour now reside in Spain, we have two more massive tournaments in the next year and will anyone really be able to stop the Spanish Armada? It won’t be the English this time.

**Disclaimer** Cataluña is Spain, Spain is Cataluña. Thank you very much.

¡¡QUÉ VIVA ESPAÑA!!

Tags: Barcelona, Carles Puyol, Champions League final, FIFA Confederations Cup, Gerard Piqué, Iniesta, La Furia Roja, La Liga, Match Recap, Sergi Busquets, Spain, team news, Valdés, Xavi

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 34 comments.

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By alessio | May 30th, 2009 at 10:40 am

Italian football is done? Ha. Spain needed penalties to take out Italia, and though the teams underperformed in the Champion’s League, Serie A has won twice in the the new millenium, La Liga has won 3. What a difference.

Posted from Spain

By Dani | May 30th, 2009 at 11:36 am

I think you’re very proud to be an spaniard, but yo must know that a major part of catalan people doesn’t share the same feeling. Probably you’ll never know what really means to be catalan, as far as you prefer to criticize rather than understand us. Most of us don’t want the independence as you might believe, we only want a real respect to our culture, language, population and a fair consideration to our role in Spain… because here, in Catalonia, people doesn’t dislike spaniards.

By alessio | May 30th, 2009 at 1:38 pm

When I’m in Bilbao, Valencia, or Coruña, people speak to me in Castellano.

Posted from Spain

By Jordi | May 30th, 2009 at 10:06 pm

Do you speak Euskara? Why would someone in Bilbao speak to you in Euskara if you don’t speak it? If an Englishman goes to Japan and meets someone who speaks Japanese and English, the Japanese man will speak English. Of course someone will speak to you in Castellano when you go to those places.

Posted from United States

By ken | May 31st, 2009 at 3:51 pm

I am new here. I used to root for Argentina. But I am now
thoroughly convinced that Spain will go on to win
the WC 2010. Their philosophy of football rooted in “total football” borrowed
from the Dutch(Johan Cruff, etc) is gradually paying off. Success first came in Euro, now in CL through Barca. Their system of playing are so versatile and flexible that they can even win in the face of adversities such as injury. If I am right, Barca should reign for a few years at the world stage. Real Madrid fans would certainly and understandingly disagree.But I do not see Real Madrid overtaking them at the world stage even if they buy Ronaldo. His failure to win Champion League proved again that soccer has become a collective sport. That is the individual days of Maradona is long gone. With regards to Laguardia, I am strucked by his genius by making Messi played in the “hole”, thus throwing off Ferguson’s tactics. As a result Evra was stucked with Henry…

By alexa | May 31st, 2009 at 4:34 pm

Hence, why Real are no longer #1 :/ But even if you do have domestic players, wouldn’t it all depend on the players and their will to play with each other as a team? (i.e., – farsa)

Real Madrid will not buy Ronaldo. period. However, I wouldn’t necessarily say ‘never’ with regards to taking the world stage.

Posted from United States

By ken | May 31st, 2009 at 4:57 pm

At this time,the will of the players is only one factor, but not necessarily, the determining factor in winning say a champion league. Keep in mind that the best player may be injured at the most critical time and the team must win at that critical time. This leads us to the most important factor, the coach. Pep Guardiola is the proof of that. That is the system chosen by the coach dictates the games, not the individual players. Messi is according to me the most dangerous player but without an Iniesta and Xavi, he simply cannot succeed. Didn’t Argentina lost 7-1 recently with Messi playing?

With regards to my comments about Ronaldo, I believe that he will leave because of Ferguson’s pasts. Whenever, a great players falls out with him, they usually leave the theater of dreams. I believe that Ronaldo criticizes Ferguson’s tactics after Man Utd lost in CL. Whether he goes to Real Madrid or somewhere else I do not know, but I am sure he will leave. Thanks for the comments

By alessio | May 31st, 2009 at 10:09 pm

Woosh Jordi….missed the point.

I understand Cataluña is a nation and has its’ own unique culture, history, and of course, language, but you certainly get a lot more stick from Catalans than others. My point was when I’m in Barcelona, oftentimes people will flat out refuse to speak Castellano to me, relying on me to attempt to translate from my rudimentary Italian.

Posted from Spain

By Azinoque | June 1st, 2009 at 5:01 am

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By Azinoque | June 1st, 2009 at 5:03 am

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By Albo | June 1st, 2009 at 11:18 am

Kenny-boy is back.
And now he’s wearing a Spanish jersey.
Good luck Spain.
Good luck Spanish bloggers.

Posted from United States

By Ken | June 1st, 2009 at 2:20 pm

Albo,

You are being sarcastic about Spain’s chances.Currently, Spain is a team with a philosophy and players of the caliber of Torres, Villa, Iniesta, Xavi etc. They have already conquered Europe and WC2010 will be next, with the Confederations cup as a warm up. Just wait and you will see!

By Ken | June 1st, 2009 at 11:19 pm

It is very interesting how the Brits come up with all sorts
of excuse so as not to give credits to Barca or its players for their gretness in earning the treble!. Latest, is that Carrick was playing with a broken toe. Give me a break!

By Jose | June 2nd, 2009 at 7:21 pm

“I am new here. I used to root for Argentina. But I am now
thoroughly convinced that Spain will go on to win”

So you’re just gonna jump to the team that you think is going to win? That’s called “glory-hunting” and trust me, that’s about the nicest way one can put it.

By ken | June 2nd, 2009 at 8:55 pm

Jose,
you can call it whatever suits you. I like beautiful football. I used to like Holland long time ago. Then I saw Maradona and I was impressed. After much analysis though and following how Spain and mostly Barca is following through with “total football”, I enjoy the way Spain and Barca are playing. I would not call this “glory hunting”. You paraphrase only part of what I wrote and thus distorted it. It is o.k though

By SP | June 3rd, 2009 at 6:03 am

ken, albo didn’t wasn’t being sarcastic about spain or their chances, he was being sarcastic about you…

By john | June 3rd, 2009 at 2:00 pm

Anthony – I’m curious about your thoughts on the Confederations Cup. I’m usually in full support of National football, and it’s importance. But the CC seems (to me) to be somewhat of a spectacle, not much more. My biggest fears are that it may:

A. Bolster false confidence (they got placed in a relatively fluffy group).

B. Hurt confidence (if they get beat by relatively fluffy teams).

c. Cause injuries (this not so much: players will have plenty of time to recover).

By Anthony | June 3rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm

The Confederations Cup to me is an amazing tournament. It’s truly the best of the best and I can’t wait to see how it all unravels.

I do however understand your very valid points in regards to confidence fluctuation due to the competition we’ll be facing off against. Our group is RATHER simple and I just hope that doesn’t affect us once we go through to play the harder teams like Italy and Brasil.

The consequences of one such tournament are obvious (i.e. injuries etc.) but in the end, the glory is well worth it. I mean how sweet would defeating Italy or Brasil be to lift the Cup? We would then have more substantial proof to our claim that we’re the best in the world.

By john | June 4th, 2009 at 6:01 pm

Yeah, but once again, read point A. If we beat Italy or Brasil in what (to my thinking) is a lesser competition, will we be over confident when the World Cup comes, leading to a first round knock out in eliminations, as per usual?

Posted from United States

By Anthony | June 4th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

Hmm, I guess that is a good point but at the same time didn’t we beat Italy in a friendly prior to the Euro’s? I think as long as we keep winning and Del Bosque plays the best starting XI available (if players aren’t performing domestically, they don’t start) then I think we should be fine. We’re stacked with talent and I believe that there will always be players who go out there and give it 110% – complacency shouldn’t be an issue.

By Sol | June 5th, 2009 at 8:20 pm

Respect from Holland to the Spanish team. Damn, that team looks fearsome.

I was just thinking about a possible Holland – Spain matchup somewhere in the worldcup.
First I was thinking sort of along the lines of a Real Madrid – Barcelona rematch, but only this time we will have ALL our dutch players like the Hunter,Robben,Sneijder trio and for example Kuyt en vPersie on the field and Spain won’t have the likes of Messi and Eto’o. That still looked doable.

Then I remembered Torres, ouch!

That’s going to be one interesting match if it ever happpens. I don’t consider Villa to be as top-notch as Torres, but I do think most people in Spain underestimate the quality of the Hunter,Robben,Sneijder trio if they get to play the full 90 minutes together supported by the right type of players like Kuyt en vPersie. At Real they don’t get that chance very often and the type of players like Raul and Higauin (did I spell his name right?) are very different from Kuyt en vPersie.

I still think Spain got us beat though, especially when it comes down to the goalkeepers.

Would be a great match to watch, I enjoy watching the attacking and risktaking teams the most, like Holland, Spain, Brazil, Argentina.

On the other hand I can’t stand to watch the cowards like Italy, Greece, France in 2008 (and to a lesser degree in 2006).

Damn, Spain got a fearsome team!!!

Posted from Netherlands

By Anthony | June 6th, 2009 at 3:44 pm

Thanks Sol for all the compliments.

David Villa seems to perform much better for Spain than Torres does; at least when it comes down to consistency. Regardless though, I do think they are definitely the best striking partnership on the international stage right now.

I like the little low-blow you gave Italy there too, haha.

If we do play Holland no doubt it will be match to remember with possibly the two best attacking teams going head to head, it couldn’t be anything less. We both had something in common until last summer and that was choking when it came down to important matches. We went through when we defeated Italy which ended our streak but you guys continued yours when you lost to Russia.

Holland has a solid squad but all things considered I still believe we’re the team to beat. By the time WC2010 rolls around, things should be very interesting.

By Sol | June 7th, 2009 at 9:13 am

If I had to catagorize the teams into levels of strength I would probably go something like this:

1. Brazil/Spain/Argentina
2. Holland/England/Germany
3. Paraguay/Russia
4. France/Portugal(yes, I think they’ll make it)/Croatia/Italy
5. Turkey/and perhaps some other outsiders like Uruguay

Posted from Netherlands

By Anthony | June 7th, 2009 at 1:49 pm

I agree for the most part although I think that Holland is a much stronger side than England. Same applies for Paraguay – sure they’ve done well thus far in qualification but it doesn’t count until you get on the biggest stage. I just don’t think they have the depth needed to progress.

By The Wall | June 15th, 2009 at 10:47 pm

As for commenting on the article,

Catalans are very close to Castellanos, and most Catalans don’t want our own nation. Although some sort of autonomy, as most of Spain’s wealth comes from Barcelona and is distributed to less productive areas of the country that with all do respect, abuse the socialist system. And btw our Catalan National team would be ranked in the Fifa top 20

great article.

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