Spanish Strole

So the Spanish are winners again? A World cup win bookended by 2 Euro wins. There were calls to have this team named the greatest team ever. Hmmm! Well it is probably just sour grapes on my part but I would hesitate. In their favour, the results stack up. But I only hesitate because I find their style of play dull. The final tonight was not a prime example of this. However to go 4 -0 up against ten men is not so difficult especially in a cup game when you might as well lose 10-0 as 1-0. 

My only gripe with this team is that I wouldn't pay money to watch them. There you are, that is the only reason they fall out of my top teams. The quarter final against France was the epitome of my dislike. Spain owned the French who didn't show up for the first half and tried a bit harder for some of the second. And without a mindless bodycheck in the dying minutes would have walked out 1-0 winners after having completely outclassed and outplayed the French. There was a lot of passing by the Spanish but it produced nothing. They just played keepy-uppy for the last 45 minutes. As a neutral observer this is in fact quite dull and a little pointless. 

If I were a coach of young lads I would of course be extolling the virtues of the way the Spanish owned the midfield and always made themselves available for a pass. There was always a man in space. If the Spanish did not have possesion then the bloke with the ball at his feet would soon find himself under attack from 2 or 3 Spaniards and eventually they would have the ball back. My gripe is that the Spanish do not seem to be over eager to press forward. Just keep passing it around until you find a gap. The proof of a pudding is in the eating and as such the Spanish can point to a bulging trophy cabinet. And it is not by chance for the last fifteen or so years the Spanish FA have worked really hard from a grass roots level to develop coaches AND players. Spain has the best ratio of coaches to players of any country in the world. Their system works and wins them trophies. 

Does this make them the greatest? It is difficult to argue against it when you see their trophies. What makes greatness? how do you measure it? OK so 3 consecutive trophies kind of seals the argument but my Hmmm from the beginning. I just cannot get excited by the Spanish. A great side should make you sit up and take notice. So far in this tournament there have been about 37 seconds where the Spanish scored that were of any note. After that you could have left the room, baked a cake, greeted a neighbour you haven't seen in a while, wormed the cat even painted a small room. In fact you could probably do all four of those things and then  return to the match confident you will not have missed anything worthy of note. 

So go on Spain have a party. You have earnt it after all. But I will not call you the  greatest because I believe other teams in history have been greater. Brazil 1970, Netherlands 1974. I know the Dutch have never won anything but they fell foul of the old rule that after 90 minutes of 22 blokes kicking a football about the Germans win. Nearly 40 years on and Johan Cruyff is still talked of for his flair and skill on the ball. Do you think we will say in 40 years time "Do you remember that pass from Xavi to Fabregas you know the one, it was just like the one they did 10 seconds before only different" think not!

If this were England I were talking about I would not have written this article. I would have said that this was the greatest side in the history of world football etc. Sour grapes is what I said earlier, perhaps?