Spain V. Russia | burgundy's Blog

I was reading an article in Marca, an internview with Juande Ramos, that was at the same time was very good but I think might have gotten one thought backwards.

Juande contends that Spain has to control the pace of the game to win. I would completely disagree, it is Russia that needs to keep things under control to win. It is Russia that needs to slow down the mid-field, control the pace, and limit the quick-counter options Spain has.

Make no mistake, Pavlyuchenko and Arshavin are that good. Kolodin's strikes from distance are forces to be reckoned with and right now, I think Aleksandr Anyukov is simply one of the best, and most dangerous, all- around defenders in this tournament. However, Spain has been diligent and methodical in their approach to games, taking what other teams give them and running with it. Grey, Smyth, Foudy have all, at times, pinged Spain for their patience and tendency to just pass the ball around and that has some legs as far as criticism goes; however, I believe it was against Sweden where Grey had barely blurted out that very observation when David Villa took Capdevilla's innocent-looking long ball and drove it home.

Spain is just as advertised. They are the Red Fury and it will be up to Russia to keep them from running wild; not the other way around.

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June 24, 2008 10:29 AM ET

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I can't see 4-1 happening again, but I can see a Spain victory. I will go with 2-1.

J. HOVA: BROOKLYN

Brooklyn, NY

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June 24, 2008 10:48 AM ET

J-

I'm with you there, no 4-1. I'm thinking more of a shut-out though; 2-0 for Spain. I'm getting a real good vibe - very much a blue-collar attitude coming out of the Spanish camp.

-B

Burgundy

Baltimore , MD

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June 24, 2008 07:46 PM ET

'red fury' wasn't there against Italy, when most of the time they were completly unabe to do more than passing around the ball until it ended with some italian defender plus some flopping. If they play that **** against Russia they will loose. Spain has not shown 'fury'