also - i just wanted to add that last night's win will hopefully be a huge leap for Brasilian domestic football. with 11 players from the brasilian league it says a lot. granted 3 of them were starters, to have a team win a tournament with south american home based players says a lot. i'll be the first to admit that i had my doubts, but i like being proven wrong when it comes to futbol
11 out of our 14 goals were scored either in the first or last 5 mins of the half / game. If we expand that to 10 mins, it's 13 out of 14 goals. Another stat that ESPN showed right before the PK is that although Spain has been great in PK shootouts since 2008, they had only converted 13 /23 PKs in game time. Make that 13 / 24. Nice jinx ESPN
Oh, do not be silly. The anthem was also sang with gusto v Uruguay and circa 10 mins later David Luiz gave away a stupid penalty. Later on Thiago Silva was similarly idiotic passing to Cavani when he should have launched it. An anthem will only take you so far. They won because they backed it up with diligence, application and no little talent - Aand I am bloody glad they did!
that first goal against japan in the 2nd minute was very critical - it quickly got all the fans behind the team which was crucial considering the talk and speculation going into the tournament. very similar to the 2007 Copa America final - went into that final as underdogs and struck a Julio Baptista goal very early on...
I agree, but not necessarily for the reason you cite. I thought Brazil would win when I saw the line-up selection Del Bosque chose. In a match where energy and possession were going to be very important, he made critical errors in not selecting Fabregas, Navas and Azpilicueta from the start. I half-expected Del Bosque to return to a double pivot with Busquets and Javi Martinez (benching Xavi- who has struggled for fitness all year), but he was very bland in his team selection. Picking Torres and Arbeloa was a joke, and Brazil certainly thought so as well.
CC or useless Fifa cup label, call it what you want. Even if it was just a exhibition, Spain got screwed like the Greek bailout plan served by the IMF. The great winning streak ended by a team that is still going through reformation. Yes, no one cares about the CC. So wear that black eye like a badge of honor like Italy,Argentina,Germany and Brazil has.
Fabregas may or may not have been match fit, but Navas in my book should definitely should've started for Spain. I'd also throw in Llorente, but he wasn't on the squad.
Didn't Llorente struggle this past season? I remember looking at his goal total late in the season and it was shockingly low.
I would not worry for Spain (if I were their fan) - they got a bit too many choices (like Brazil from late 90 to mid 2000s) but that's Del Bosque "good problem" to have: Attack: Cecs, Mata, Navas, Silva, Carzola, Pedro, Isco ... Center MF: Xavi, Iniesta, J martinez, Xabi Alonso, Busquet, Thiago .. striker Torres Villa Llorente Sodaldo Negredo Telo ... They could have made two good teams there GOSH
He was politically kept on the bench this entire past season for Athletic Bilbao. He refused to renew his contract, and decided to leave on free to Juventus, with a really low compensation fee. So in turn Bilbao got upset and said "fvck your career" and forced him on the bench and came on sparingly for Bielsa. Fack Llorente
One of the pundits mentioned Fabregas did something in Brazil and did not play any more, but could not say why. Was it some off the field stuff?
I see. I remember that Juve wanted him but when I saw he was at Bilbao, I thought the deal fell through or something.
They haven't really had a striking duo like that since the days I watched Serie A religiously. In the early 90s, the only soccer I could get was Serie A on a local channel that mirrored RAI (and I think the Mexican league). I liked watching Juve because of Vialli and Ravanelli up top. I miss those Serie A days...
I was being sarcastic on how no one cares about the CC in Europe. You hear the cowardice all the time, even if it was the WC won by non Europeans.
I still enjoy the Serie A to this day but I can't say I followed it like I used to. Teams have been playing more offensively which has improved the league but it is still a great league for defending. I am curious how many Goals Mario Gomes scores this season for Fiorentina. I saw one gambling line had it over/under 12.
Seria A is a league I enjoy as well but it has been on decline for awhile. It has been making steady improvements though. The problem for a while is most teams were losing there top stars to other leagues.
He fought with the Bilbao manager and was more or less ostracized, but he's the best striking option for Spain still. Well see how he performs up front with Tevez at Juve this season.
Its entirely possible. I guarantee you Brazil, in general, will be a huge off field problem for many teams next year. More strip poker and indiscipline please! Better for us!