Spain World Cup Champion

From Javier...

What can I say. I thought it would be very difficult that Spain would ever be World Cup champion. And here the team has made us champions before I am even 40. And not only has Spain won, but it has also created a unique football style that fans can recognise as truly Spanish.

We started this blog as a showcase for Monte Carlo Simulation. But we continuously have highlighted the importance of psychology and mental strength in football, away from tactics or skills. I was again very impressed yesterday with the Spanish team. The Dutch took the lessons of Spain's games against Switzerland, Chile and Paraguay and took them to a different level: interrupt play continuously, apply strong tackles to destabilise, intimidate and provoke the Spaniards, force Spain to commit mistakes. The Spanish players maintained their composure remarkably well in face of what the British press today defines as "thug football". The karate kick on Xabi Alonso is front page on the Times supplement today.

I understand the Dutch tactics and the rationale for them. But the Dutch also have to understand that Dutch football's image has taken a formidable beating, the romantic 74 team has been superseded by the ice hockey players of '10. Johann Cruyf must be very mad today. Probably the Dutch mistake was not to start pressure further up field (like Chile did so effectively against Spain) and to incur in unnecessary rough play that tested the referee's patience. And of course The Netherlands missed some very good chances.

I saw the game surrounded by a large contingent of political family, my wife, my four young daughters and my mother. I missed my dear father who passed away last year and would have loved so much to see Spain crowned champion. When Iniesta scored the goal the release of tension and sense of relief was overwhelming. Four grown-up men spent a minute hugging and jumping in front of the TV.

So never again will we have to endure that "Spain are perennial underachievers". For the future I hope team Spain does not become a parody of itself and tries to take the "tiki-taka" and passing football too far. We cannot forget that the semifinal against Germany was won with a classic English-style header by a defense on a corner kick. We cannot forget the wake-up call given to us by Switzerland in the first game and confuse possession with winning. At the same time, who would have guessed that even with our star striker (who adds Northern European style definition to the passing game) in very poor form that Spain would still make it.

Team Spain is an example of humility, hard work, teamwork and cool headedness. Great example for Spain's young and not-so-young. Hopefully the country's politicians will learn from the national side composed of a variety of regions and will start to exhibit the same attributes.

England to Reach Quarter Finals Only?

From Sukhdev

I guess my first experiences with the World Cup are from 1986. Since then we have been fairly consistent in getting to the quarter finals (except in 1994 when we didn’t even qualify), but that doesn’t seem good enough for a country that professes to have some of the best players in the world. Over that time, we have had some great players in Lineker, Gascoigne, Shearer, Beckham, and now Rooney. One of those players, Gascoigne, probably was the best player we have had for a generation, but wasted his ability going out and getting largered up with Jimmy ‘five bellies’ and co.

I don’t really see this crop of players doing that much better and the quarter finals is probably a realistic target, though I hope we will at least get to the semis. I have tickets for the two quarter final games England could reach, and I would rather see us win than go home miserable. I’ll be updating the blog from South Africa between games, parties, site seeing, etc.

Though our defence is a little shaky, we always seem to pull that together when the time is right. Losing Rio is not great, but Terry should hold the team together and I always think having one clear leader at the back is better than two. Who will be next to him is up for debate. I hope it is Ledley King as he is definitely a strong centre back. Otherwise Carragher could be an option if King’s injuries are too much. At left back, Ashley Cole has to be the best in the world, and at right back I can only hope Johnson doesn’t leave his defensive duties too often especially considering he will probably have a winger in front of him.

In goal, I would go with Joe Hart, though it looks as if he is third choice. James has been given the number one shirt indicating that he may start. Hart may not have a lot of experience, but has had an outstanding season and made no mistakes in the two recent friendlies. Surely if he is good enough, he is old enough. How can we start with a goal keeper nicknamed “Calamity” James. As for Green, he has not had the best of seasons, and still does not look assured in an England shirt. Spain did it with Casillas, and we should do it with Hart – give him a chance.

In midfield, we have a selection problem. If the shirt numbers are anything to go by then the midfield will be, at least for the first game, Lennon on the right, Joe Cole on the left and Gerrard and Lampard in the middle. Sounds like a great set of midfielders going forward, but who protects the defence? Personally, I don’t like Gerrard and Lampard in the midfield together if we play 4-4-2. If we want them both, we should play 4-5-1 and have Gerrard just behind Rooney, just like at Liverpool. On the left he is wasted, and in the middle with Lampard it is too dangerous. If I were to drop one of them, I would drop Lampard. Great player, but Gerrard is simply better even if his season has not been so great at Liverpool. Playing 4-5-1 we could have a defensive midfielder to help out, and it is not like we have two strikers that are amazing. Both Barry and Carrick could be used in the defensive midfielder role. Neither is a perfect solution with Barry coming from an injury and Carrick not having the best of seasons. Also, Milner did not look too comfortable in that position in the recent friendly against Mexico.

As for the wingers, I would trust Lennon. I was a little surprised with Walcott’s non inclusion especially as SWP is included, but Lennon is a very similar type of player. Before his injury, he really was on fire. Let’s hope he can reproduce it. On the left, we have had a problem for a while. Joe Cole is competent, but maybe has not been outstanding since returning from injury. Adam Johnson seems very good and is left footed, but lacks experience. Milner is also an option for either flank. I would start with Cole, but then switch to Johnson fairly early if Cole does not perform. I would only question how much cover two out and out wingers give our flanks.

Up front, we only really have one player – Rooney. Crouch could be a good sub if we need something different, but we too often play long ball with him up there. Heskey is simply not good enough, though I am humble enough to admit all those great managers that keep picking him must see something in him. Defoe had a great season, but tailed off at the end, whereas Bent went on to do really well, but he didn’t get a look in so lets not dwell on that. With this lot in our stable, we really should go 4-5-1 and let Gerrard loose!

All in all, our team is not bad, but as we all know we need to play like a team and not a bunch of great individuals. To do that, we need Capello to be brave and either change our system slightly or play only one of Gerrard and Lampard. Personally I favour 4-5-1. Our top teams play it fairly regularly and it is well understood by the players. It would also give our top players the system that would suit them all.