Spain will rise again?

Spain

On the 16th June 2010, a Spanish side strode into the opening game of their World Cup in South Africa as the undeniable, unequivocal favourites. Applauded for their passing style and their propensity to keep the ball, they were beaten 1-0 by Switzerland, a side as disciplined as they were unremarkable.

Few expected such a result with the larger media construing it as a remarkable fluke, largely a consequence of the unfamiliarity of being such widely recognised favourites. That match became arguably the most important of their campaign, for it emphasised that a squad many viewed as broken, divided and fractious, could unite in the face of adversity. Yet, Spain’s 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands at the start of their Brazilian adventure could be a wholeheartedly more damaging affair.

It would be two years after that remarkable defeat to Switzerland until we would see the completed tapestry. The glorious representation of Spanish football in all it’s unabashed, remarkable, Tchaikovskian beauty.

Upon arrival in Brazil few questioned the quality within the Spanish ranks, but many mused on whether a second World Cup, and a fourth consecutive major tournament victory would be a step too far. If the Spanish performance against the Netherlands is anything to go by, those disciples of death may just have a point.

For the 5-1 score-line tells it’s own story, one of complete opposites, confused defending and fluid attacking. Yet it was the manner of the defeat that makes this a completely different proposition. If defeat to Switzerland was comparable to a stubbing your toe, capitulation at the hands of the Netherlands was akin to breaking you’re foot. Spain couldn’t blame cold shoulder of lady luck this time.

With the game ending as it did, remarkable to think then that had David Silva opted for a more clinical finish when through on goal, Spain could have been 2-0 up in the first half following Xabi Alonso’s successful penalty.

As it was, the Dutch equalised almost immediately. The majestic Daley Blind caressed a long pass onto the on-running Robin Van Persie. At times blighted by injuries and petulance, the Dutch captain all but erased memories of a nightmarish domestic season in Manchester with a glorious header past the hapless Iker Casillas.

For Arjen Robben is was one of his all too rare nights. So often on the end of castigation for failing to deliver more consistently on his prodigious talent, yet tonight he went back to being one of the worlds best.

He scored two drastically different goals, his first and The Netherlands second, was a demonstration of great intelligence, composure and technique, while his second and the final Dutch goal was one defined by raw pace. His hairline may be more akin to that of an ageing man whose better days are well beyond him, but the velocity at which he sauntered past a demoralised Sergio Ramos was sensational. His composure to finish on both occasions was systematic and emphatic.

A Robben master-class sandwiched a somewhat controversial Stefan de Vrij goal, and a calamitous goal in which the ball exploded off of Iker Casillas’s foot and into the path of Robin Van Persie. A simpler goal he may seldom score.

It marked an uncomfortable couple of months for Iker Casillas. The goalkeeper many consider to be the best of his generation has had an error strewn few matches. His uncharacteristic misjudgement allowed Diego Godín to score in the Champions League final, while tonight’s error was ultimately less significant, but far more embarrassing.

Conspiracy theorists will point to such basic errors being a result of age but at 33 that seems highly unlikely. A More plausible explanation could be his lack of regular football at Real Madrid, or perhaps it was simply that most inconvenient of human experiences, a genuine mistake.

Nonetheless such a defeat raises legitimate questions as to Spain’s claim as the best side in the world. The lingering notion was one that teams had figured out how best to deal with Spain’s unique brand of the beautiful game, and while such universal appraisal is hard to agree with, Louis Van Gaal can tonight claim to have cracked the code.

Tactically the Dutch were perfect, closing down space and attacking at Spain’s weaknesses. Runs off of the back of both Pique and Ramos in conjunction with the diagonal ball were a constant danger while pace was also a rather potent weapon in the Dutch arsenal.

It leaves them as perhaps the most surprising team in this budding World Cup. Such a performance many believed to be beyond them but they’ve now earmarked themselves as potential winners after such a display.

What of Spain then? Reactions have been one of stunned disbelief, for whilst The Netherlands were indeed excellent, Spain were abject. The usual mesmerising synchronicity of their passing play hardly materialised and with that, Spain lost the most fundamental leg from which they stand on.

Vicente del Bosque does however, have room to tinker between now and the crunch match against Chile. The experiment to incorporate a traditional number nine in Diego Costa failed miserably once again, while the relative lack of mobility in the centre of midfield will be another area of particular concern.

The 16th of June 2010 will now be a sign of hope, one that demonstrates the Spanish ability to overcome. With that in mind, it would seem foolish to write off the all conquering force of international football for the past seven years at this remarkably early stage.

Those under the impression that Spain will simply roll over may have to think again. Don’t pack away the La Roja bunting just yet.


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