Spain v Netherlands 2000 BST

cmon oz

 

1963 actually.

 

Well that was a fantastic game. Holland outstanding.

 

Mario Melchiot on Twitter - @MarioMelchiot: Rt.Haven't been as entertained by 11 Dutchmen delivering a 90 min pounding since my last visit to the shadier areas of Amsterdam. #WorldCup

 

Absolutely. Got their tactics spot on too. One of those days when everything just clicks.

 

Melchiot

 

Brilliant. Loved it.

 

Just going to pop this here -

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I don't think Spain were awful. I think against most teams they would have been something like the usual Spain. However, Holland didn't let them play their game. Holland played like they remembered how to do Total Football.

 

I wonder if he moved to his "dream club" or to win things .........................? How's that all going for you mate?

 

They just couldn't defend against long balls at all. They'll literally struggle to beat Australia if they don't seriously tighten up.

 

Agreed. Against Robben and Van Persie they were all over the show, but they won't see pace and skill like that again in this group. If Chile are to beat them they will have to hound them like Holland and take their chances, while at the same time denying Spain. That will be a good match.

 

Spain where awful by there standards yet the "Tika Taka" era is coming to an end. Barca where destroyed in the champions league by Bayern. Pep takes over Bayern and they are destroyed by Madrid. Spain now destroyed by Netherlands. Teams are now moving back to a different style of football and Xavi said it himself pre match "we won't change our style, we will live or die by tika taka". Dead!

 

Depends where you're putting Spain's standards. By their very best overwhelming possession play they were down on standard. This may be because teams have learned to play against Tika-Taka. Your point about Guardiola teams being beaten is not lost on me either. I thought very similar after watching the second of those Champions League games.

However, lesser players will still lose to Tika-Taka because it requires extreme fitness and concentration to nullify it. Also then one must play to one's own strengths. Gordon Strachan [WGS] hit the nail on the head when he said that the two Spanish CBs are used to playing against one good/great striker. Holland gave them two exceptional ones of extreme pace and skill. They came up short. Holland simply imposed their style [Total Football's return..?] on Spain rather than Spain being poor.

 

No I agree with your initial point, in the sense against lesser teams Spain would have won and Tika Taka is still effective at certain levels. I say Tika Taka is dead but Bayern walked the domestic league, yet they had no real competition. In the big world (european) tournaments I don't see the dominance we had before when Barca (and Spain) at their best, would send the opposition on a merry dance, play with them, tire them physically (and mentally) before winning with ease. Now its different. Spain will likely still qualify but teams no longer fear Tika Taka.

The return of Total Football would be great, although Van Gaal is at utd next year!

 

Yep, agree. And also about Total Football and Van Gaal.

 

Spain weren't really that tiki-taka-ish. It wasn't a 4-6-0 or anything. They still played possession football and stayed true to their general style, but you'd expect that.

Mostly, I think Holland was just really good and Spain towards the end was super, super awful. Don't know that a different tactic would have changed that.

 

Wanted Spain to win before the game. Don't like the dutch but after Busquets did his usual and then Costa cheating for the pen I'm glad Holland won (even if Robben is by far the worst diver and faker in the game.)

2 penalties in the first 3 games won by dives/fakery. This sport must be laughed at by other sports.

 

What a great day to have a Spanish housemate