Three thoughts after Spain’s 3-0 win over Russia set up Sunday’s Euro 2008 final between the Spaniards and Germany:
• Man of the Match: Spain’s Cesc Fàbregas. Most national teams would have been stricken with horror when a player of David Villa’s quality left the game with an injury in the 35th minute. Not Spain, which simply replaced him with Arsenal star Fàbregas, whose brilliant assists on the second and third Spanish goals blew this game apart. With so much talent on the bench, Spain’s B-team might have gotten out of the group stage on its own. And while I’ve been critical at times of Luis Aragonés’s player decisions (no Fàbregas as a starter? Yanking Fernando Torres for Dani Güiza?) he seems to be pulling the right strings and getting the best chemistry possible out of his team. Even if Villa isn’t available for Sunday’s final, going with Fàbregas in a 4-5-1 provides no real drop-off.
• Who cares if Spain wasn’t trying to do that? A goal is a goal is a goal. Let’s be honest: It sure looked like Andrés Iniesta was shooting instead of passing (and shooting way wide right at that) when Xavi ran in to redirect the ball into the goal on Spain’s first strike. And it sure looked like David Silva (and not Güiza) was the target of Fàbregas’s lovely pass before Güiza scored Goal No. 2. But soccer isn’t billiards, and you should be rewarded when players with attacking mind-sets put themselves in positions to do damage. That’s exactly what Xavi and Güiza did, and it made the difference in the game.
• Let’s hear it for Brazilian-born defensive midfielders. A day after Turkey’s Mehmet Aurélio completely shut down Germany’s Michael Ballack, Spain’s Marcos Senna put on a clinic, taking Russian star Andrei Arshavin out of the game (with the considerable help of the Spanish back line, most notably Carles Puyol). Senna has been a perfect fit with this Spanish midfield, providing the stability and bite that his attacking colleagues have needed to work their magic. Senna and Aurélio sure don’t belong to the samba school that Brazilian soccer is known for, but they’re two of the toughest d-mids around.
Through-balls: Spain’s Sergio Ramos has had two straight impressive performances after a rough start to the tournament. He got forward several times and had a role in Goal No. 2, but he also did a defensive number on Russia’s dangerous left back Yuri Zhirkov ... If Villa does miss the final after a freak free-kick injury, that would be a shame. The leading scorer of Euro 2008 should have a crack at playing in the final if at all possible ... Separated at Birth: Russian goalie Igor Akinfeev and actor Frankie Muniz ... What is it with sports broadcasters (Adrian Healey, Billy Packer, Jeff Van Gundy) who fall all over themselves to say a game is indisputably “over” before the final whistle/buzzer? Advertisers must cringe, and (more importantly) we’ve seen plenty of evidence in Euro 2008 (and in other sports) this year that a game is never over until it really ends ... With Roberto Donadoni being fired by Italy, do you think France’s Crazy Ray Domenech might be next? ... If Aragonés (69 years old) is being replaced as Spain’s coach by Vicente del Bosque (57 years old), does that mean the next coach after that will be ex-Brazil coach Mário Zagallo (77 years old)? What’s up with all the old codgers, Spain?
Who do you like between Spain and Germany? Will Arshavin be a club success in Spain or England—or a flash in the pan? Please post your comments below and come back Friday for the next edition of the Euro 2008 Blog ...
Tracy Burns
Christina Parker
College Football, Top 25 Review
Back in Time: December 1
Comments (77) Add A Comment
Despite the heavy rains, the Spanish side put on an amazing show. The ball moved slow all night, but their controlled passing game dominated throughout. I'm really looking forward to the final, and will be rooting for Spain to break through with a win (no hate for the Germans, though).
flinx1241
Total Comments (5)
Grant, Iniesta assist is totally on purpose. You could check his eyes keeping track with Xavi's run. The goal's no fluke. And let's hear some praises for Guiza. He's no Torres, but he's La Liga top scorer nonetheless. And he proved it today by not only his cool finishing, but also his movement and spacing. Plus he is better in holding up the ball than Torres, which is an important quality for a lone striker.
Rosson3r1
Seattle , WA
Total Comments (1)
I don't think 57 is old.
I believe Del Bosque can do a good job.
And I hope Fabregas gets to start on Sunday.
nelsonorange71
Total Comments (38)
Dominating, decesive win for Spain. It seemed to me like the young Russians were just content to make it this far. They played without any passion or enthusiasm. This has been Spain's best overall performance thus far in the tournament in my opinion, on both sides of the ball. I think given their current form they have to be considered the favorites against the Germans who have yet to play their best football. I am in no way disrespecting the Germans, they are more than capable and a much better side than Russia. But if Spain comes out like they did tonight I can't see them losing. Mr.Wahl you are spot on! Cesc was brilliant tonight for Spain.
Barca4Life
Milwaukee , WI
Total Comments (180)
Arshavin is a flash in the pan... where was he today? Completely invisible!
lc_killa_85
Total Comments (1)
Just watched the slow-mo on the Iniesta pass a couple dozen times, for what it's worth, and his eyes aren't looking at Xavi's run. As for Del Bosque, he did a great job at Real Madrid. I just wonder if the Spanish federation has a thing for hiring older coaches.
Grant Wahl
Baltimore, MD
Total Comments (5)
Ecstatic. If there's a word to describe how I feel, that would be it. I was streaming the match at work (I work for HP) and I jumped up and shouted every time we scored which of course did no less than attract employees and managers to my desk. Luckily, I didn't get in trouble as people were genuinely interested, and a few of my co-workers who are not too keen on the beautiful game had told me they were keeping track of the tourney and catching the weekend games.
Several of us from work and several of my friends are going to be headed to a bar to watch the match on Sunday. As memorable as this tourney may end up being (if Spain win it), the most memorable thing for me will be the exposure of football to the general American audience. Disney has done nothing short of a *tremendous* job of covering the games with bringing over UK announcers, airing them in beautiful HD quality, and even the ESPN Axis-cam.
People are warming to the idea of (what should be) a beautifully flowing games with only a 15min half-time to interrupt the proceedings with commercials.
But boy, does that grass look pretty in HD. Hopefully I'll be able to see every detail on the trophy (probably a little drunk) with the stitching of La Furia Roja kits holding it up. Viva Espana!
FC Barcelona
Mechanicsburg , PA
Total Comments (54)
Rosson3r1, you fill your head with lies. He never looks up once he gets the ball. There's nothing wrong with him having a go at goal, and it led to Xavi putting it in the back of the net.
Can we get a few words for Guus? I know that lots has already been said, but the man is a wizard with these Cinderella teams. What do you think is next for him? It's a bit late in the game for him to lead another dwarf country to the World Cup, but I'm sure we haven't heard the last of Guus Geluk (Lucky Guus).
hupholland
Total Comments (7)
Arshavan will be successful if he goes to the right team. I think he sits if he goes to Barcelona (who have attacking forward talent in abundance) but he could be an integral player if he goes to a place like Arsenal (who keeps losing mids and fwds to transfers, injury and speculation).
Germany controls the Spaniards with their superior height in central defense and big tournament experience. Only Portugal rivaled the Germans in terms of experience and youth (the Italians and French both showed they were far too old this time around). Germany wins 2-0.
Todd Boss
Arlington , VA
Total Comments (3)
I think the rain played a big factor in Russia's no show today. All their speed was neutralized by the pitch. Still not sad to see Spain go on, I would love to see them hammer Germany.
Spackler
Total Comments (1)
Go Spain!!! Long live Stevie G.
fordman1964
Kansas City, MO
Total Comments (4)
I personally think Spain will play better, but Germany will come out on top.
And, for the 1st time ever, I'm rooting for Spain (I'm from Portugal).
Hyped78
Lisbon, Portugal, EU
Total Comments (3475)
Spain's ball control was absolutely masterful. Their back line was as good as ever. They controlled both Arsh and Pav the entire match.
If Germany and Spain play the exact same way in the final as they did in the semis, Spain will destroy the Germans. Saying that, I expect Germany to come out hard and firing, but it'll still be a Spanish win.
Fabregas is a gem, and will be a superstar quite quickly. As well, St. Iker looks unbeatable. Nothing is going to get by him.
billykyjoe
Saskatoon, SK
Total Comments (20)
The Spaniards are the one team in Euro 2008 I fear. Germany does not play well against teams that employ the "Brazilian" style. Another late-stage tournament loss will break my heart. The 1996 Euro and 1990 World Cup seem like a generation ago - Ballack needs to step up on Sunday to cement his name in German football lore. Go Deutschland!
steverazor
Mesquite , TX
Total Comments (9)
Grant have you been reading my blog? similar in places, no? If you get me a job at SI I'll just write them for you ;-) I was really looking forward to a Russia-Turkey final, although I'm sure the organisers and advertisers weren't, as I'm a romantic, but Spain were a joy to watch tonight, I don't think I've ever enjoyed watching a team I'm rooting for get destroyed quite so much. Good point about the Spanish play, who cares if they were trying to do it? At least one of them MEANT for it to happen, no Iniesta wasn't looking for Xavi, but Xavi was looking for that ball, its not like it hit him in the face accidentally or something like that. Great football. Arshavin will excel wherever he goes, I have no doubt.
mikehealy
Total Comments (36)
steverazor: "Germany does not play well against teams that employ the "Brazilian" style."
They did pretty well against Portugal, did't they?
Hyped78
Lisbon, Portugal, EU
Total Comments (3475)
Really I am a 27 spaniard and I have never been so calm watching my NT. We used to struggle a lot, we used to play good, but usually the others get better chances to score. But this year I havent allmost seen Casillas playing, even playing agaisnt Italy I was watching the game thinking Italy have no chance, at least we will shot penaltys. I didnt even celebrate it a lot, really I used to celebrate a lot all matches even the friendly ones. What I am really impressed is that they are young our captain is 27, yes 27 years old and there are even more young guys coming. Now our young stars like bojan or queco will have the chance to come to the national team and learn from champions changing our mentallity. This is what it really matter what and Italian or a german learns when they get to the NT. They will learn to compete for the gold.
turdus
Total Comments (9)
I don't know if I'm more disappointed in Hiddink's game plan or Arshavin's game. What happened to the swashbuckling team that felt it had to outscore Holland to advance? Do we have to consider that Hiddink freezes up in the semi's? It's the round he always loses in.
But then again, Arshavin was a total no-show, I had to check online to make sure he wasn't subbed out a couple of times. Pavlyuchenko came to play, but his playmaker was strangely subdued, shades of Ronaldo for the '98 WC finals, suddenly going from Player of the Tourney to somnambulistic on the pitch.
I haven't heard a word yet about Villa's injury and if he's out for the final, but I hope that isn't the event that finally gets Fabregas into the line-up. Villa still ended up raising his transfer price from the bench, I'm sure some of his suitors watched Torres have a clanger and got all hot and bothered again over his potential.
socceryall
Raleigh , NC
Total Comments (9)
correction: Akinfeev and Into the Wild's Emile Hirsch were separated at birth
customsox927
Sarasota , FL
Total Comments (1)
I think the spanish will win if they stay loose. They are too fast for the germans and too skilled. However if they play the slightest bit tight or cautious they will fail. The German team is experienced and disciplined. The spanish will win only if they go all out.
Michael Gerard
Farmington , MN
Total Comments (11)
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