Group H Thread

[RickSanchez]

Xavi is a gun no doubt, Fabregas isn't at that level yet. But I still would've bought Cesc on later in the game opposed to the subs they made. He would've scored or created a goal. Xavi does things all over the ground but when you're desperate for a goal, Fabregas is the midfielder you want on the field. Hope people don't think I am suggesting he's a better player overall than Iniesta or Xavi, but Fabregas can make an impact as a super sub like that, e.g against Aston Villa.

Anyway whats done is done, Silva had a pretty average game I thought. Fabregas should get same game time as well soon, if Iniesta had injury doubts (not that Fabregas doesn't have his/had his) why didn't they just start Fab. Navas destroyed Ziegler (i think?) on the right but again his crosses in weren't too flash. Interesting to see how they take it from here.

Glad people kind of agree with the decision Casillas did when came out, meaning should've probably came out with his hands, go for it son.

 

[Crimson King]

Iniesta is better than Cesc and Xavi put together.

Settle down. My man Xavi is the reason your midfield works.

I agree that Iniesta is criminally under-rated but you've made a huge call in regards to him being the best player when on the ball by a mile. Messi is a freak when he is on the ball.

FWIW, Rooney rates Iniesta as the best player in the world but what would he know?

 

[Bourky23]

Settle down. My man Xavi is the reason your midfield works.

I agree that Iniesta is criminally under-rated but you've made a huge call in regards to him being the best player when on the ball by a mile. Messi is a freak when he is on the ball.

FWIW, Rooney rates Iniesta as the best player in the world but what would he know?

Obviously a tongue in cheek comment but still..

Trust me, as good as Messi is on the ball, Andres is better. Not saying Iniesta is a better player than Messi, but as far as keeping possession and technical ability on the ball goes, Iniesta is the best.

 

[Power King]

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

Zaccardo vs usa. usa had a free kick, ball went to him unmarked in the box, he went to kick it one way, and it went the other into the net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vGFsNbFBqs

this was before the defensive lineup was settled.. next game we started grosso who slotted in more comfortably than anyone's wang into paris hilton

zaccardo is actually a decent player though.. obviously terrible moment to do a clanger like that though.. point is, no one could create a goal against the italian defence in the whole tournament

anyway, we followed up the clanger with this set piece:

[youtube]wdADEW-lMfQ[/youtube]

 

[Borgsta]

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

No they weren't

 

[DB10]

****ing Switzerland!

 

[dread and might]

Very proud Swiss poster here. Bit lucky maybe, but that's football. To deal with some things not talked about in the thread.

1. Benaglio made some crucial saves, (though one poster referred to the "ball hitting the goalie") or some such crap.

2. The handball/yellow card shown to Yakin. Not pretending to be unbiased here, but can somenone more netral give me some opinions there? Looked an absolutely outrageous decision to me.... up there with.....

5 Minutes of stoppage time!

Which has been talked about obviously, but talk about giving Spain every chance and then some. I almost lost it completely.

That is all, though I would be keen to hear other's thoughts on the handball thing...

 

[Bourky23]

Don't understand the complaining about the 5 minutes, I was talking to a mate when the game was on and in about the 85th minute we thought there might even be 6 minutes of it.

The goal itself, the injury to Iniesta, IIRC both side used all their substitutes? Pique's treatment after he copped a stray boot in the goal. It all added up

 

[Power King]

the 5 minutes of stoppage time extended to about 5:35

benaglio was fantastic last night too.. one of the best goal keeping performances of the tournament thus far

 

[Cruiser23]

the 5 minutes of stoppage time extended to about 5:35

That's because Switzerland made one last sub after they announced the extra 5 minutes. Plus the keeper was caught for time wasting. Spain made 3 subs, Switzerland made 1, Inesta injury, Pique injury, additional time for stoppages. Don't know what you are complaining about.

 

[dread and might]

That's because Switzerland made one last sub after they announced the extra 5 minutes. Plus the keeper was caught for time wasting. Spain made 3 subs, Switzerland made 1, Inesta injury, Pique injury, additional time for stoppages. Don't know what you are complaining about.

Personally, it was probably just because I aged about a decade...

Still say the Yakin handball was garbage.

 

[Power King]

That's because Switzerland made one last sub after they announced the extra 5 minutes. Plus the keeper was caught for time wasting. Spain made 3 subs, Switzerland made 1, Inesta injury, Pique injury, additional time for stoppages. Don't know what you are complaining about.

i was complaining

 

[RickSanchez]

Switzerland were paying $13.

 

[Cruiser23]

i was complaining

Not sure whether you did or not, but a fair few have. Was directed at the people that were.

 

[Smyth94]

I thought Spain played too much like Barca - except that they don't have Messi

Hopefully they go 4-4-2 vs Honduras

 

[Davo23]

I thought Spain played too much like Barca - except that they don't have Messi

Hopefully they go 4-4-2 vs Honduras

Exactly: Spain just pass the ball around, waiting to set up Messi

Messi makes their Barca midfield look so much better - Iniesta, Xabi and co may be a bit overrated?


.

 

[RickSanchez]

Exactly: Spain just pass the ball around, waiting to set up Messi

Messi makes their Barca midfield look so much better - Iniesta, Xabi and co may be a bit overrated?


.

hahaha not sure if you're joking or not if not....i'll let Godzke, Kompany and co take it from here.

Fabregas would've scored 10 goals, unless he's going to Barca next season he probably wouldn't have scored.

 

[Public Enemy No1]

Spain are grossly overated... choking prima donnas

 

[Bourky23]

Exactly: Spain just pass the ball around, waiting to set up Messi

Messi makes their Barca midfield look so much better - Iniesta, Xabi and co may be a bit overrated?


.

poor troll is poor

 

[Dagger5]

Exactly: Spain just pass the ball around, waiting to set up Messi

Messi makes their Barca midfield look so much better - Iniesta, Xabi and co may be a bit overrated?


.

Another "avid football follower" here folks.

 

[r dub 19]

Should be a good night, interested in seeing how Spain comeback from the loss.

 

[Cruiser23]

If Busquets starts after that performance i'll cry...

Iniesta apparently struggling so i doubt he'll start.

Interesting to see whether Del Bosque plays Villa and Torres tonight. It's either Villa/Torres or Cesc, that's a tough choice in anyones language.

 

[r dub 19]

If Busquets starts after that performance i'll cry...

Iniesta apparently struggling so i doubt he'll start.

Interesting to see whether Del Bosque plays Villa and Torres tonight. It's either Villa/Torres or Cesc, that's a tough choice in anyones language.

What other dm's are available for spain? Biscuits is terrible. I guess they could play xabi in the role.

 

[Cruiser23]

What other dm's are available for spain? Biscuits is terrible. I guess they could play xabi in the role.

Xabi can play there, played there when Torres came on and does a very good job. Javi Martinez can play there also, has more mongrel than Busquets and won't duck contests.

 

[SebastianVettel]

Once Torres is fit enough to start they'll go back to their Euro 2008 4-4-2 formation. Xabi will sit the deepest of the midfielders - and dominate as per usual.