Group H Thread

[Benno_900]

Valid point, however he should of replaced xavi or xabi earlier.

They're just training him for his role at Barca.

 

[belfast_bomber]

suicides in spain eclipsing record figures

Nah, going by the majority of the Spanish comment in the bar where I was watching and the text from my brother-in-law, this was a much-needed dose of humility for these prima donnas.

Well done Switzerland, and Hitzfeld you wily old bastard.

 

[Damon_3388]

Brazil v Spain in the 2nd round? What a joke that the #1 and #2 ranked teams would be placed in consecutive groups.

Isn't it a random draw, done through pin pong balls in a barrel (or some equivalent system)?

 

[Public Enemy No1]

Brazil v Spain in the 2nd round? What a joke that the #1 and #2 ranked teams would be placed in consecutive groups.

Today's result could open the door for Portugal and Ivory Coast (who could meet Italy in the quarters).

Crap logic..fact is if both teams win their group they would only meet in the final..1 vs 2
Cant frig the draw to take in account losing

 

[Selective Retention]

The problem of an "easy" draw is that if you lose one you have issues.

Everyone beats Honduras, Switzerland and Chile draw, then Spain have to beat Chile at altitude.

 

[Kompany]

Mmmm Lucky goal maybe, but that coach has that defence organized to the point of not many teams could score aginst it = not luck

But Spain had plenty of chances! Just from the top of my head, Alonso hit the bar, Pique hit the goalie, Iniesta and Navas had shots going centimeters wide, Torres missed at least one massive opportunity, Villa missed an empty goal in the 1st half...

Switzerland played well but where's their merit in Spain missing all these chances? They were just lucky - that's football.

Everyone now jumping on this result are overreacting like crazy. Spain played (very) well. It's hard to compare teams/matches now but they created more chances than France, England, Italy and Holland until they were given a goal.

Holland have something Spain lack and seem to starve for. A gun wingman. David Silva showed today he's overrated and pretty shit and Navas simply isn't up to it yet. He showed promise but couldn't deliver a good cross. Holland weren't at their best against Denmark but I think that'll change when Robben comes back.

Spain won the euro without a single winger. With Holland having a winger, I guess you mean Robben (who didn't play) and Elia? Elia only came on after they were up 1-0 and Denmark gave them space. Before the 1-0, Holland were in big trouble and it was Bendtner who'd had the biggest chance.

I don't think Spain missed a winger that badly considering they've created more chances than any other team in the tournament other than Germany.

 

[Power King]

^Whilst Spain dominated general play, craeted a number of chances and had a good passing game, surely there must be concern defensively for allowing a goal through that wasn't a complete fluke, and for allowing the swiss to hit the post from where was it the 6 yard box from another play that also wasn't a complete fluke.

Against a world class team, that's 2 certain goals from dancing through the spanish defence.

 

[andrew23]

Could the game have been fixed. I know here the Swiss were paying $17 for the win

 

[apollo_creed]

Lucky maybe? The ball took more deflections then a pinball. Pique was basically spooning it. Spain had more then enough chances to win the game. The swiss bus parking position is not luck however their win tonight is.

Mate,

1. you're not Spanish
2. you're a (you can finish the sentence any way you like)
3. silva is as good as joe cole. they are similar players. joe cole is overrated and unproductive. if you think Silva is some gun then it's only bias. nothing else.

 

[Deledinho]

Isn't it a random draw, done through pin pong balls in a barrel (or some equivalent system)?

Yeah, sure. Random. Just like FIFA say it is.

 

[Bomber Bears]

Torres looked very very rusty. Oh well.

Thought Alonso was excellent, pretty hard watching him play knowing he used to be at Liverpool.

See Xavi and Pique walk straight off without any thought of shaking hands? Typical Barca attitude there.

Will the spaniards bounce back? Too much class not to you would think but hey, it's a funny game.

 

[Kompany]

^Whilst Spain dominated general play, craeted a number of chances and had a good passing game, surely there must be concern defensively for allowing a goal through that wasn't a complete fluke, and for allowing the swiss to hit the post from where was it the 6 yard box from another play that also wasn't a complete fluke.

Against a world class team, that's 2 certain goals from dancing through the spanish defence.

Is there a country then that doesn't give away opportunities? Their goal was their first chance and yes, Spain was very lucky not concede a second, but by then they were taking serious risks at the back already. Half the time they were playing 2 at the back with Alonso sitting in front of them.

I don't see anything in it. Spain has played world class teams before whilst not conceding. They conceded 3 in 6 games at the euro, and didn't concede any past the group stage. Their defence is clearly good enough, but of course they'll be vulnerable in certain situations. Every side that is a goal down and needs to go out attack will give the opponent opportunities.

 

[bisazc887]

Brazil v Spain in the 2nd round? What a joke that the #1 and #2 ranked teams would be placed in consecutive groups.

Today's result could open the door for Portugal and Ivory Coast (who could meet Italy in the quarters).

Dont be riding off Switzerland that easy, Of course every team needs a tiny bit of good luck rather than bad but that defence could withstand all that possesion from Spain, Its wont be easy for I Coast or even a very rusty Portugal

 

[Cruiser23]

Just had a look at the goal again. Busquets needs to find some balls after that effort, he ducks his head going up for the header, hit his back and continues on towards the Spanish goal. Anyone with his height wins that ball and there is no trouble whatsoever.

Secondly anyone think Casilias made the wrong decision and easy decision by using his feet instead of putting his body on the line and going in with his hands? I reckon he had enough time to pounce on that ball rather than protecting himself and using his feet. He would have got a free kick even if he fumbled it as the keepers are a protected species.

 

[r dub 19]

Biscuits is terrible, capedevilla is poor aswell.

 

[RickSanchez]

Aren't the 3 left backs like Lopez, Arbeloa and Capdevilla.

Ewww.

Spain played like Arsenal last night, lots of nice stuff, lacked the killer blow and then concede an easy goal. I still think it was strange how Casillas came out though, may not have wanted to give away the penalty, but he would've got it. Ah well, Swiss looked alright they got a result more than they hoped for. They looked better when Senderos was off though.

 

[r dub 19]

Spain played like Arsenal last night, lots of nice stuff, lacked the killer blow and then concede an easy goal.

My thoughts exactly, however if they were true to arsenal tradition they would of brought cesc on to save the day.

Cesc is better in the final third than xavi. I'm pretty sure cesc had the most assists in euro 08. Also he scores more goals than iniesta/xavi/alonso/silva.

Happy to see spain lose without him.

 

[Benno_900]

cesc is better in the final third than xavi. i'm pretty sure cesc had the most assists in euro 08. Also he scores more goals than iniesta/xavi/alonso/silva put together.

efa.

 

[Kompany]

Secondly anyone think Casilias made the wrong decision and easy decision by using his feet instead of putting his body on the line and going in with his hands?

Yeah looked dodgy. And didn't he make a similar mistake against Milan in the CL last season?

 

[Crimson King]

Biscuits is terrible, capedevilla is poor aswell.

Agreed. Too soft.

 

[Power King]

Is there a country then that doesn't give away opportunities? Their goal was their first chance and yes, Spain was very lucky not concede a second, but by then they were taking serious risks at the back already. Half the time they were playing 2 at the back with Alonso sitting in front of them.

I don't see anything in it. Spain has played world class teams before whilst not conceding. They conceded 3 in 6 games at the euro, and didn't concede any past the group stage. Their defence is clearly good enough, but of course they'll be vulnerable in certain situations. Every side that is a goal down and needs to go out attack will give the opponent opportunities.

The only goals that Italy conceded in the entire 2006 world cup was

1. an extremely soft own goal

2. a dive from malouda without any contact being made that resulted in a penalty during the final

So basically no team could create a goal against the azzurri throughout the entire tournament. i think ukraine might have his the post when they were 3-0 down, which was probably the best chance all tournament

 

[superfreak]

Xavi was very poor for mine. Agree wholeheartedly with freofan_mundy. Didn't look threatening at all in the final third.
For mine, Cesc is a better player than both Iniesta and Xavi.

Capedevila is a battler. Xabi Alonso was class.

 

[Crimson King]

Woah, settle down.

Xavi has had numerous consistent quality seasons. He's probably the best passer in the world (Pirlo/Alonso make a case) and there aren't many who can pull the strings from the midfield like him.

Cesc on the other hand is definitely better than him in the final third but not as an overall player yet. His potential is greater than Xavi's though and I am pretty certain he will end up being the better player. You've gone too early there.

 

[bisazc887]

The only goals that Italy conceded in the entire 2006 world cup was

1. an extremely soft own goal

2. a dive from malouda without any contact being made that resulted in a penalty during the final

So basically no team could create a goal against the azzurri throughout the entire tournament. i think ukraine might have his the post when they were 3-0 down, which was probably the best chance all tournament

Which was the own goal, I thought only the penalty in final?

 

[Bourky23]

Iniesta is better than Cesc and Xavi put together.

Seriously though, I still can't believe how underated he is.

Pep was right, maybe he needs to get some tattoo's and bling to get noticed.

Messi and Ronaldo are a clear number 1 & 2 in the world, but IMO Iniesta is the obvious number 3 (and if you asked most of the worlds international footballers/coaches i'm sure I wouldn't be alone)

Yes he goes down easy, but that doesn't stop anyone bagging Ronaldo's ability.

Iniesta is the best player on the ball in the world by a country mile. He plays with two of the next best in Xavi and Messi yet you can still notice how much better on the ball than those two he is.