“I didn’t really want to be the coach who wins but the coach who educates. I want to keep preparing them for the future.”
n Vicente Del Bosque – Spanish National Team Football Coach
The statement in itself sums up the humility of the Spanish team and the principles responsible for pioneering the current generation. The other day, I was reading an article in which humility is emphasized within the current generation of Spanish players. From the on pitch display to off pitch display, the Spanish tend to dwell within themselves and to respect others. Most teams with the swagger of Spain would mean ego clashes within the squad and internal rifts, all the ingredients of controversy. This Spanish side has instilled themselves with humility and has proved that you don’t have to behave like spoilt brats, when the world lies at your feet. The drive to win has always been there but not at the cost of disrespect and even on winning the desire to achieve and learn along the way is what make this era of Spanish players so likeable and special.
This Spanish generation may never be matched, although when Iker Casillas, the Spanish captain was asked on being compared to the great Brazilian teams, his reply was “Are we the best ever? I don’t know. I think we have to keep winning and win more trophies. When we’re retired in 10 or 15 years then maybe we can look back and say we were really good.” This humility doesn’t arise out of the victories which they scripted out, but it is the cultured upbringing of these footballers which make them so endearing to the entire World. The hunger for success or conquering history itself is not enough. For the current bunch of players, the desire is still there to create history. Keeping this in mind, World Cup 2014 will be the target for these Spaniards.
Boring, over passing the ball, too much possession are some of the terms which the critics have been pointing out, but at the end of the day, you may say that the media have been putting forth these terms because they have run out of praises for the current Spanish team. While other coaches may have buckled to such pressure, Spain seemingly stuck to their game plan.
A 4-0 score line is never a good one to take back home, especially as history would suggest it was a rout. But it will truly not reveal the effort each Italian made on the pitch. It will also not take into consideration the injuries, the close chances and the sweat and blood of the players.
The Italians did themselves proud; a runner up medal is justified when the opponents are way superior. But for all those who viewed the finals, they will understand that Italy didn’t just roll over. Indeed there were chances when the Italians could have scored, but superb defending, added to their wonderful goal keeping and clinical finishing is what gave the score line such a lopsided outlook. The midfielders played deep in defense when needed and snuffed out most chances Italians sought to create. At times, Spain was playing at a level which will be difficult to emulate in years to come. Their pressing, creation of small triangles to unlock the defense and the killer passes were all on display. Before the match, the Spanish coach had requested one last huge effort from these players and boy what an effort.
Initially the teams started off well but the determination could be seen on the Spanish players as they slowly started taking control. Indeed at one point of time in the first half, the Italians had more possession than the Spanish, which in itself is a rarity. But that was the last of what we can say dominance form the Italians. David Silva, one of the smallest men on the pitch directed a Fabregas cross into the top left corner, beyond a despairing Buffon, the Italian goal keeper. Eye catching though was the patient build up, and the sudden increase in tempo to free Fabregas on the right. The initial pass by Andreas Iniesta was sublime. Italians are generally associated with outstanding defending, but there was hardly anyone to be blamed, as they could only look on helplessly.
In hindsight, the Italians may be blamed for giving the Spanish too much time on the ball, but clearly Spain played at a level, which was very difficult. Indeed, at times the way Spain pressed to regain possession, it was as if they had been deprived of their favorite toy. Unfortunate injuries didn’t help the Italians cause as well, and then came the goal from the new Barcelona recruit, Jordi Alba. A lung bursting run from his own half and he calmly put the ball past Buffon. It might as well have been Game, Set and Match.
As the goal came just before half-time, there needed to be decisive substitutions and on came Di Natale for Cassano whose two chances came and went and just as in the first half after the initial hiccup, the second half also was dominated by Spain. To make matters worse, the Italians lost their third and final substitute to an injury. With half an hour left and a man down, this was the last nail in the Italian coffin. But Spain was not done yet, they sent on Torres and Pedro, speedier players against the tiring and overworked Italians who were already on their last legs.
For all his woes in the Blues, Torres has risen like a phoenix in these Euros, as he quickly settled and unlike the first game against the Italians in the group stage, where he was accused of being wasteful, this time around he was as clinical. Xavi’s straight pass soon found him and a drop of the shoulder and slight adjustment to his body was all he needed to guide the ball past Buffon, to settle the matter of the title. And if that wasn’t enough, his unselfishness, to set up Juan Mata, a 74 seconds old substitute for his first touch and goal was his way of making it up for not playing Jesus Navas in the earlier group game.
A minute earlier my friend was moaning about why Mata hasn’t been played in this tournament, but I guess with two winners medal already in his pocket, he is destined to make an impact in the World Cup 2014(all that’s a combination of squad selection, injuries etc – the little considerations). With the score already 4-0, while teams look to stroll the ball about, Spain kept on attacking in the same manner in which they had pursued it in the first minute.
The hallmarks of champions, and in a way paying homage to the Italians, who were never considered inferior at any stage of the game by the Spanish. As Buffon the Italian keeper and captain put it very aptly, “Tonight, there was no contest, they were too superior – so the bitterness at losing this final is only relative. It’s ended badly because we faced a great team who deserved to win. Sometimes in life you need to be able to accept defeat and compliment opponents who were better,” Buffon said to Rai Sport.[1]
As tributes continue to flow for the Spanish side, this team can truly be called as the “Team of the Century” and hopefully will continue to enthrall us with their brand of football, which is so unique and humble, that the entire world of football can only continue admiring and applauding them and at times call them “Boring”.
[1] http://www.goal.com/en/news/2898/euro-2012/2012/07/02/3214454/there-was-no-contest-italy-keeper-buffon-hails-superior# [last visited on 02/07/2012].
Behind the Veil 