Euro 2012 Qualifiers – Spain vs Lithuania Preview and Match Comment Thread

October 8th, 2010 | by: Ade C. |

Here we are, as the current World Champions (I might never get tired of saying that!) take on Lithuania for their second match on the group stage of the Euros 2012 qualifiers, tonight at Salamanca’s Helmántico Stadium, at 22,00 CET (I think, 17,00 CST?).

It's also a time to play at home for these two Salamanca natives...

This is actually Lithuania’s third match of the group stage, and they have 4 points already, having drawn without goals against Scotland at the same time that Spain won 0-4 against Liechtenstein, and then won against the Czech Republic 0-1 with a Darvydas Šernas header while Spain was off getting bullied by Argentina.

Under the jump, the players at Del Bosque’s orders, after the whole injury-induced reshuffle and my proposed line-up!

In case you’ve forgotten, the players that Our Wise Walrus has at his diposal are (with the last-minute replacements in italics):

Goalkeepers: Casillas, Reina, Valdés.

Defenders: Capdevila, Marchena, Puyol, Piqué, Ramos, Arbeloa, Monreal.

Midfielders: Iniesta, Alonso, Busquets, Cazorla, Valero, Soriano.

Forwards: Villa, Llorente, Silva, P. Hernández, Aduriz.

And my proposed line-up looks like:

—————-Casillas——————
Arbeloa–Ramos–Puyol–Capdevila
———–Busquets—-Alonso———-
—————-Iniesta——————
——Silva—–Llorente—–Villa——

Let me explain. First, I’ve always thought that Ramos makes a pretty good CB and I’m a wee bit concerned about Piqué’s fitness, with the exhausting schedule he’s had at Barcelona, so since he isn’t really anywhere near his best form, it’s a good time to give him a rest. I’ve resigned myself to the double-pivot, Iniesta has to be there to replace Xavi, and finally, finally it’s Llorente’s time to shine; with Torres and Pedrito injured, Del Bosque has no excuse not to play the Basque as our man in the box, with Villa’s support from the left, and Silva alternating between attacks and dropping back to the midfield to support Iniesta.

I wish I knew enough about the Lithuanian NT to give you an idea of how they might play, but I have to admit I don’t, so let’s just cross our fingers and hope for the best, right?

Leave your proposed line-ups in the comments, disagree with mine, or just share your excitement when the match actually starts!

Spain World Cup Blog RSS Feed

James

An intriguing line up. I think Ramos makes a winger than a CB. Puyol might not get used to working with him as a fellow CB.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Well, I hate to say it, but Piqué been pretty poor in his last couple of matches for Barça, and I'd rather have Ramos as a CB (he did pretty well there at RM last season) than the other options, which are Marchenator, or… Marchenator. Puyol is no stranger to making do with new partners, he'll manage.
(I am trying to be optimistic here!)
James

It always amaze me that Barcelona and Real Madrid are such strong rivals yet when comes to the National Team ( at least this team ), they can work so well together. Maybe all this rivalry are just between fans / management. The players themselves appears to get along well together.

Due to time difference, I will propably download this game to watch later this week. Strange we keep coming up with small countries as opponent. So we can't possibly loose right? Touch Wood
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Oh, it's not picture-perfect (yesterday The Ramos took a little dig at Piqué when he answered a press-conference question in Catalan), but I think that the team has learnt to leave club-rivalry behind for La Roja most of the time. The players from other clubs might have helped with that, too.

And yeah, I'm knocking on wood that none of these 'small countries' pull a Switzerland on us!
ROD

I doubt Iniesta is going to play the central role. Bosque will play him out wide and put Silva in the middle. There's no way Pique is not gonna start as Del Bosque has shown he'll play the same people anywhere at anytime and Ramos wil be the RB
Casillas
Ramos-Pique-Puyol-Cap
Busq-Alonso
Iniesta-Silva-Villa
Llorente
It will be nice if Valero gets a chance to play in that central role because from what i have seen him he looks like a a great 3rd option behind Xavi and Cesc to be that withdrawn playmaker if he keeps up that form he's on
ROD

I saw that Ramos looked really Pissed!
ROD

That ramos-Pique thing was a big talking point on some big show in Spain called Punto Pelota
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

I wasn't *that* bad. Twenty minutes later, Sergio Ramos took to Twitter to say he had no problem with Catalans or the Catalan language, that it had been a joke, and he even provided a blurry phone pic with Piqué to make clear to everyone that everything was absolutely fine (http://yfrog.com/jos6bdj).
But the people at Punto Pelota have the same problem I do: La Selección doesn't give us many news, so we cling to what we have…
ROD

True Its such a loaded squad with no apparent Problems with each other and every little problem they have ends up getting solved instantly its a good thing for the squad and the supporters but its boring when there's nothing to talk about between matches but hey they can always laugh at everybody else
Lou

Apparently Xabi Alonso has the flu and is doubtful for the match.

/http://www.goal.com/en/news/2898/euro-2012/2010/10/08/2156503/xabi-alonso-a-doubt-for-spains-clash-with-lithuania-after
ROD

that means Bruno will start unless Bosque pulls a surprise and possibly plays Valero in the Alonso Role
Casillas
Ramos-Pique-Puyol-Cap
Busq-Valero/Bruno
Iniesta-Silva-Villa
Llorente
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Official starting XI: Casillas; Ramos, Puyol, Piqué, Capdevila; Busquets, Iniesta, Silva, Villa, Cazorla and Llorente.

So, due to Alonso's flu, Del Bosque drops his double-pivot and tries a midfield of Busquets to hold the fort, Iniesta and Silva/Cazorla to provide creativity and help in the attack.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

20 mins in, Spain with plenty of opportunities, a Ramos header to the post, Villa&Silva looking pretty sharp.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

30 mins, more chances, Silva is getting tons of CKs, Cazorla is giving amazing passes. But no goals yet.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Goalless first half.
Spain playing well, with Iniesta, Cazorla and Silva the hightlights of the attack. Villa hit the goalpost on the rebound after the Lithuania keeper saved a great Llorente header.
Lithuania defending with 9 men, had a couple of clear chances on counters (one Capdevila defence, one great Iker save). Piqué and Puyol defending well.
Lots of chances, no goal… sound familiar?
ROD

yes
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Unfortunate, isn't it?
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

No changes for the second half, though Bruno was seen talking to Del Bosque.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Llorente scores!!!! Min 1 of the second half, Ramos assist, textbook play, really.

Spain 1, Lithuania 0.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Lithaunia scores in a counter! Šernas after a defensive mistake, perhaps.

Spain 1, Lithuania 1
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

LLORENTE SCORES AGAIN!!!

Cazorla, amazing cross, you little thing!

Spain 2, Lithuania 1, two minutes after the Šernas equaliser.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Btw, in the other match in the group: Czech Republic 1, Scotland 0.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Min 75.

Aduriz plays his first game for La Selección, in for Fernando Llorente (what, no hat-trick?!); he is wearing Torres' number 9 shirt.
Pablo Hernández comes in for David Villa.

Possession 74% Spain, 26% Lithuania.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

SILVA SCORES!!! A header by this tiny, brilliant player, after another Ramos assist.
Spain 3, Lithuania 1.
Ramos is limping, though. Marchenator doing emergency warm-ups.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

Arbeloa (a Salamanca native) in for The Ramos, who is limping after his two assists for today; something in his right ankle.
http://spain.worldcupblog.org/ Ade C.

FT: Spain 3 (Llorente twice, Silva once; all three were headers), Lithuania 1 (Šernas).

Pretty good match by Spain, shame about the defensive mistake that led to the Lithuania goal. Ramos and Llorente ended up on the bench, with ice-packs on their ankles.