FIFA World Cup 2010 - Spain Wins - Paul The Octopus Retires

[NeuteredDoomer]

I called it. Spain won it all.

You and BillyIrish called. Sure did.

 

[johnnykillz]

Damn. Good game. Robben has some speed. He got robbed on the last break-away. Iniesta drew as many theatre antics as did the Dutch team, it just seemed his stunts (dives) drew cards. The yellow that prompted the red was horrendous. He had no shot at the ball.

Spain's quick crisp touches really tore apart the Dutch defense the second half. All in all, great game.

I give a round of applause to the Spanish. They were certainly the most talent rich of the world cup. To the Dutch, I also feel they deserve a close second which, with fate, could have certainly been a win.

Grats to the folks who called the favored Spanish.

 

[jason_h537]

Been sayin from the beginning. Spain the #1 ranked team with the most talent on the roster. World Champions

 

[ACamp1900]

Spain has the best national team for sure and deserved to win it... their record over the last three years proves that... though I wouldn't say they clearly have more talent... the Brazilans, the Argentinans, the English, Germans, Dutch and Italians just to name a few have at least as much talent, some obviously more... the thing with Spain is they can do what the other elite countries often struggle to do... play complete football as a team. Brazil and England more than anyone REALLY have had problems with that over the last decade or so. When you put three legit scorers on the Brazil squad they all seem to fight for the glory... England has been 11 guys on their own for a long time now...

I wonder if having Cesc Fabregas limited didn't help Spain in this toruney... Torres and Villa are straight money and the best part is they can actually work effectively together at times... but really Pedro and Villa seem to have clicked even better...

Great team play and ball distrobution considering how many world class talents there are on that squad... that is really the stand out thing for me with that Spain... many teams have as much talent when you actually break down rosters.

 

[johnnykillz]

Torres and Villa are straight money and the best part is they can actually work effectively together at times...

Say like yesterday, when one was on the bench and the other was on the field?

And the teamwork component kept another Spanish goal out of the mix on an easy pass, where instead a shot was taken. It was a quick break counter, essentially a two on one with defenders in lag.

I can guarantee you, Spain is THE most talent rich team by many standards. Even EA sports thinks so.

 

[ACamp1900]

no they're not... by any standard.


sorry.

England, Argentina and Brazil have every bit as much talent... dude... look at the rosters...

it's a complete insult to the other countries talent pools to say Spain just has better talent... Spain is up there with anyone, but not more talented than everyone... they play together... and yeah, Torres and Villa didn't play together yesterday... but I watch Euro soccer and I watch as much international soccer I can view... the team play seperates them, not the talent... England has as much talent when you go player for player down the roster and they are not NEARLY the team Spain is, because they are a bunch of indivduals.

and yeah EA is awesome at ratings... we should use them as the end all in everything...

 

[johnnykillz]

Right, thats what I'm saying. EA sports ratings are where its at.

But in all honesty as a team, not individuality Mr. Hardhead, Spain has the most talent. Add it up and take the average; Afterwards your highest mean will be Spain.

 

[ACamp1900]

no it won't.

 

[johnnykillz]

Whatever loser.

 

[ACamp1900]

Higuaín, Tevez, Samuel, Heinze, Agüero, Messi, Demichelis and Maxi Rodríguez are every bit as good as the top eight or so guys from Spain... and that is no insult to the Champs... they are among the five most talented countries out there... but I consider it an insult to England, Brazil, Argentina and Italy to just shit on their talent pools by saying another country is just head and shoulders above them. I also think you can take seven or eight of the top players from any of those other contries and compare them to Villa on down and it won't be black and white either way in any instance... I don't even care about those nations and I'm offended... lol

the ball movement, the lack of selfishness... that's what made the difference... that and maybe the fact that more than any other country the talent extends to net minding in Spain... since Casillas is without question one of, if not THE, keepers in the world right now.

 

[johnnykillz]

Look, we can make the argument all day long for each nation. The bottom line is this:

Spain won. Talent articulated to teamwork. Game over the end.

 

[ACamp1900]

I spit on you sir.


shame on you and your cowardly ways.

 

[ACamp1900]

Spain won.

Thanks in large part to the worst officiating in history...

 

[johnnykillz]

Thanks in large part to the worst officiating in history...

I'll give you that. I was pulling for the damn Dutch. Arjen Robben straight burns. Nothing but a left though. Damn. Shoulda been a PK.

 

[jason_h537]

You can call it poor officiating but Spain shutdown everyone so... World Champs

 

[ACamp1900]

actually the refs shut down Germany and the Dutch.... Spain just happened to be on the field when it happened...

 

[NDinL.A.]

Thanks in large part to the worst officiating in history...

Wow...watched the game and I thought the complete opposite. Everyone I watched it with thought the complete opposite (and I won't mention the fact we were all rooting for Espana. Oops).

Seriously, the Dutch were dirrrrrrrrty. The first foul by Van Pummel, errr, Van Bommel on Iniesta in the 22nd minute could have been a red. And that cleats first kick to Alonso's chest SHOULD have been a red, no question at all. The ref straight blew it there, and that would have changed the game. As bad as I thought the ref was, and I watched the game again just now, there could have been a few more yellows that weren't handed out to the Dutch.

I read your take on the Puyol foul on Robben as being a PK. The ref rightly played the advantage there, as Robben still had the ball (incredible strength). The foul though, happened outside the box (saw it several times on replay). The ref should have, after Robben was dispossessed by Iker, called a foul outside the box. He missed that one, for sure. He missed many on both sides.

I give credit to the Dutch for pressing Spain so high up the field, unlike every other team in the tourney. As a result, the midfielders from Spain had no room to do what they do. The game changed though, when Inesta started to suddenly pick his game up to a higher level, and he, Xavi (absokute magician) and Cesc started to dominate. You could see the Dutch wilt as they just got tired (7th game...chasing these little midfielders around the entire field for 120 minutes, completely understandable.

What I didn't like about the Dutch is that they ruined the game with their dirty play. They had to do it, and I get it, but it doesn't mean I liked it. I warned my dad before the game it was going to get dirty, and one minute in Van Piersey DRILLS a Spaniard LOL, avoiding a yellow but picking one up 4 minutes later.

As for the most talented team...sorry Johnny, but I side with Acamp here. Spain is in the argument, but dude, you have Brazilians leading different leagues around the country in scoring and still not making the national team, and that's happened for decades. Argentina, France (yes, France), Italy, Germany, Holland...all teams that are supremely talented. But like Camper said, Spain has a style of play and they play it to the tilt, all based around the team. Yes, they are talented, but so are the other teams. It's the style of play that is consistently played now from youth ball to the club teams to the national teams, that enables the incredible players to mesh into the best team in the world. And it helps that they play so unselfishly most of the time.

 

[jason_h537]

actually the refs shut down Germany and the Dutch.... Spain just happened to be on the field when it happened...

Right

Im sure it had nothing to do with Spain having possesion around 65% of the time or having the best goalie in the world

 

[ACamp1900]

absolutely nothing.