Fair result in the end. 2nd half was rather...boring. I must say that there sure are a lot of butthurt people on this forum.
Man those last 20 minutes were boring but then again both were in and Chile didn't want to give up any more goals in case the Swiss scored late in their match.
It wouldn't have been boring if even one player from Chile came from their own half, both teams were happy with the score and let it at that. Iniesta (who probably would have come off for Silva) should have been subbed earlier instead of letting Silva stand there for nothing as he ever only was going to play seconds.
At least Pique didn't get bloody this game. I was hoping someone would knock Joan for me. Loved him when he was at Depor but he's a bit passed it now. Iniesta not quite there even with the goal. We will know he is back when he runs passed people like he used to. Don't get me started on Torres.
The team itself still isn't looking at their top at all, that players like Iniesta and Torres are clearly not in form after their injuries (really, one can add Cesc as well who botched good chances in 2 games now) is not helping either. Luckily we avoided Brasil because we are not really ready for them (yet). Portugal will be another step up in the opposition, let's see if we can see another improvement in the coming match. More efficiency in the scoring from chances created certainly helped today.
Yes Yes Yes!!! Shame on Spain for letting Chile back in so early in the second half, I was ready to start partying but kinda took it down a notch after that goal. I really wanted to see Spain vs. Brazil, US denied this matchup last time, hopefully it will still happen. I would rather see Pedrito in for Torres at this point. Fernando is not playing with enough confidence at the moment.
The problem is the only way to give Torres rhythm is to let him play. A good Torres is an asset to this team (no one can deny his speed up front doesn't help, it helped with the first goal too) but he is still getting back to form, hopefully it won't take too long. Because a lot of our players need to be in form if we even want to have a chance to win something here.
Thought Cesc should have started in place of Torres today. El Ninho is still not at 100% regarding his finishing.
Yeah that happened at our house too, then when Spain starting with the "lets see how many passes we can string together while Chile sits on their side of the field knowing that with the 0-0 in the other game they were in the next round" it got boring!!
We really need him for his pace and physical presence, but I'm really preferring the blonde Torres to this new one at the moment. Yes, very boring there towards the end, in a way that was fine for me knowing we weren't chasing the result and we were through. Was Spain trying a counter attack style in the opening minutes of the game? It was strange to see the team with such little possession and I'm thinking they were trying a counter strategy.
Re: Match 47 XIX FIFA World Cup - 1st Round, Group H Pretoria - Loftus Versfeld (41.958) Chile 1-2 Spain 0-1 : Villa 24' 0-2 : Iniesta 37' 1-2 : Millar 47' Casillas Sergio Ramos -- Piqué -- Puyol -- Capdevila Xabi Alonso -- Busquets Xavi -- Iniesta -- Villa Torres 55' Cesc for Torres 74' Javi Martínez for Xabi Alonso Referee: Marco Antonio Rodriguez (Mexico) BOOKINGS 15' Medel (foul on Busquets) 19' Ponce (unsporting behavior) 22' Estrada (foul on Busquets) 37' Estrada (unsporting conduct) double booking
I kind of agree with you. The only way to get Torres back to form and fitness is to let him play. It usually takes him a few matches for him to find his rhythm (from what I've seen when he plays for Liverpool after coming back from long-term injuries). And yes, a fit Torres can be an asset with his pace and skill. Having said that, I would've started Fabregas or Silva instead of Torres in the Chile match. Regarding the Chile match, we were below our best again but I'm glad we managed to grind out a win even though we didn't play great. Villa's goal was sheer class but I liked Iniesta's better because it came from great team play and movement which is what we did a lot in the qualifiers. I hope to see more of that from now on. Apart from wanting Torres to improve, I also hope to see Xavi being more influential in the game because so far he hasn't stamped his authority in the midfield like he usually does. We all know that when Xavi dictates the game, Spain plays a lot better. I hope the injury that he is carrying is not bothering him too much because we haven't seen the real Xavi yet. Overall, I'm satisfied with this win but can't help wanting more from the players because I think we are still playing well below our true potential. We need to step it up in the knockout stage.
Well, Chile were a good team, but Bielsa had them playing at 110% percent, Sparta-like, and it showed when they conceded after Bravo's rash action and later when Estrada was sent out. We looked better, more professional, taking our chances. I liked that better than our first game. We seem to be improving, but Portugal will be a test of our patience. Del Bosque's substitutions are weird. First, Javi M. in for Xabi -I predicted that one, because he seems to have him pegged in the same 2nd DM hole than Alonso-. Then, Silva coming in too late. Iniesta and Villa, our most valuable players don't get any rest. Cesc for Tores?? As for Torres, as Oscar pointed out, he needs games to improve. He has experience in these competitions, so maybe we should give him time, whule at the same time bringing Llorente/Pedrito in lat ein games. Xabi's injury opens up the possibility of Xavi not playing anymore as a #10, which is interesting. Del Bosque won't use Javi Martinez as a starter, so maybe we'll see something more similar to the Euro 4-1-4-1 or 4-4-2.
I disagree here. If Xabi can't play I'm 100% sure Del Bosque will start Javi Martinez. He is in love with the double DM. In this process he is marginalizing our best player, Xavi. I'm stealing a post from another forum because I think it is a good one. It points out what is going on and I concur with what this guy says.
The irony here is that Javi Martinez is only a DM in Del Bosque's mind. But I think his love of the 2 DM will conflict with his love of seniority, so IMO there's a chance that Cesc starts.
If it was up to me, we would move Xavi back and pair him with Martinez who is the only mid we have that can cover a lot of territory at the back.
I agree with most of the comments but I disagree about Busquets. He is constantly 5 to ten yards further up the pitch than he should be. He is not the steel we need in midfield. not really his fault but the coaches. He wants to touch the ball and go forward but doesn't always get back. What impresses me about Alonso is his leadership. I saw him yelling at Sergio twice to press the ball against Chile. Even so, it is surprising that he is the conductor and the brain of our team more so than Xavi. I've seen people on other threads slag our center backs. But I would put Puyol and Pique on a level with any other at this world cup. What makes Brazil looks so solid is Melo and silva protecting the back line. Or Shweinsteiger in Germany. Spain lacks the steel in midfield and it will likely cost us dearly.
I don't think anybody denies that Alonso is a good player, he is a great player. However, the argument is whether he and Xavi can play together. I don't think I've seen a game where both have played well when on the pitch together. Right now Xavi is played as a #10, that is not his position and never will be. If you are going to have Xabi run the team then you might as well sit Xavi because right now he is almost useless.
I know. I've been saying the same thing for a while now. Nothing we can do but hope DB changes tactics. But even with the players on the pitch they need to show more grit. In 2006 we won the fair play award for the least amount of cards. Were on pace to win that award again but i'd rather win the cup We need our players (esp. sergio and Alonso) to risk yellows in this game and break up any counters. Get dirty you B*****ds. That needs to be the call for every counter. On a side note the funniest analysis I heard about the lack of cards for Spain came from a commentator that said: "Spain have players that know how to be nasty when they don't have the ball. The problem is they always have the damn thing."