WC 2010 Part 2: Spain vs Holland

First topic message reminder :

Could go either way for me, a cracker or a bore.

Great game, Barcelona demise is now evident internationally. Cycle or era has ended. How many more big games will it take for someone to get some bottle & drop Xavi. Absolutely gone, gone, gone. It's getting embarrassing now. Agree, Iker is looking seriously ropey nowadays, just error prone consistently.

Robben was unbelievable, along with RVP. Keep them both fit, they've got half a chance. Wow. WC has truly begun.

now then, conspiracy theory time

I'm not 100% sure of the rules, but if Spain beat Chile, Chile beat Holland, and everyone beats the poor 'roos then we have 3 teams on 6 points with a win each on direct results. Is the next tie-breaker direct results GD? Because if so Holland could "tank" their last game vs Chile to ensure Spain are knocked out (provided Spain haven't absolutely destroyed Chile of course).

A maybe more likely scenario is if Spain draw with Chile, a draw between Chile and the Netherlands puts Spain out...

fantastic second-half from the Netherlands that by the way. Robben what a player! two fantastic goals.

Doesn't happen that often but Duty got it spot on with his talk of Spain's high backline. You could argue 3 goals were a direct result of it...

And you'll be saying I was spot on again in around twenty-six and a half hours!

Duty m'boy, I really, really hope so, nothing could make me happier *

* well, maybe world peace, and England tonking the All Blacks tomorrow morning, and simultaneously managing to wrap up my PhD and finiding a job for next september, and of course England going on to somehow miraculously win the whole bang shmozzle (followed by an equally wonderful in the RWC next year), but you get my drift...

I didn't think Holland would get out of the group!

Amazing win. Boring Spain got taught a lesson. That header by RVP i could watch all night long.

I LOVE THE WORLD CUP!

Also the refereeing in the Mexico. Like i said, the officiating will over shadow this tournament.

Duty281 wrote:And you'll be saying I was spot on again in around twenty-six and a half hours!

Duty, if England are only 50% positive as Holland were in this match. I will give you TWO, i will eat my hats.

I pray i eat my hats, but.....

Spain just lost the plot whilst Holland got so up for it. When you've got an arrogant, confident manager who will tell you "dont be scared of them, make them scared of you" and you really believe it then it makes one hell of a difference. Robben just saw the weaknesses and played like he wanted to have fun with them.

Am I the only one who thinks that it was never a penalty? (Not that it matters much now)

Funny though, if an England manager picked a defensive 8 to shield a world class 3 up top then he'd be chastised. We'd have to get that kind of 3 up top first though...

Hoggy_Bear wrote:Am I the only one who thinks that it was never a penalty? (Not that it matters much now)

No me too.

He slid in and never changed direction.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Spain just lost the plot whilst Holland got so up for it. When you've got an arrogant, confident manager who will tell you "dont be scared of them, make them scared of you" and you really believe it then it makes one hell of a difference. Robben just saw the weaknesses and played like he wanted to have fun with them.

Everything the Dutch touched turned (say that fast 3 times!) to gold tonight. It happens.

I still wouldn't write Spain off or expect Holland to run riot.

If that was the pinnacle of Holland's tournament no one would be surprised

Spain v Brazil probably. Look forward to that.

The Spain line up should completely change for the next game. There's nothing Del Bosque can do with the defense, Albiol and Juanfran are the only backup defenders. I'd like to see Fabregas, Mata played in the next game and do something a bit different. A big problem is Costa in this system, the style of play does not suit him.

My line up would be something like:

David Silva played well, except he has no goalscoring instinct. Its so frustrating. I'd get rid of Busquets, play Koke and keep the team the same, if not consider Villa for Costa as he has instincts but is smarter.

Is this the death of tik taka or an old team with a big reputation that got shown up? Does this loss serve as an indictement of Spain's philosphy or is this just the player's on the pitch being past it and not good enough? Personally, I can't see how a team with Ramos at CB is going to win the world cup.

I still remember my first WC Socal

I wonder if Costa for Chelsea is the right move, think he'll quickly replace Suarez as most hated player in the Premier League.

They needed to fill their bell end quota with the departure of Ashley

This was a disaster for spain, I backed spain in outright winners, now looks like they won't even win a single match let alone making play offs , finals and winning the title.