Spain - The Lowest Scoring Team To Win A World Cup

[No Hoper]

Proof that it was the poorest world cup in living memory.

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by deodrant2

Germany done ok with it, they score twice as many as Spain and didn't win it.

Apparently they used it all season in their league.

[Kborom]

Originally Posted by WillD

But Spains caoch had the guts to drop Torres, we should have done the same and shot heskey.

tidied

[TartanMackem]

Spain played much more exciting football in the 2006 World Cup, but since the Euro 2008 victory, plus Barca's form in Europe, the cat was let out of the bag and everyone played 11 men behind the ball against them. Their response? Play even more passes.

I used to enjoy watching Spain, but if I'm honest I don't find the "why play 3 passes when 25 will do" style of football that they've started playing in the last few years that exciting.

In 2006 and 2008 they played in triangles, and linked up exquisitely, but were more direct in their attacking. Quicker to move the ball into the box and try and create a chance. Now they pass it around the outside of the 18 yard box for 3 hours.

But they won, so I'm sure they don't care, and it is still better than watching Italy.

[Dan The Man]

Originally Posted by deodrant2

Germany done ok with it, they score twice as many as Spain and didn't win it.

They had used the ball since the turn of the year in the league.

[zebediah]

Well if people believe the quality of football is goals scored let FIFA give the reigns to the yanks, sure within a couple of years and a few rule changes we can have scorelines akin to basketball. Thereby improving the game by your own definition.

[Father Jack Hackett]

This lauding of Spain as playing fantastic football is a myth IMO. Yes they do nice little triangles and one-twos, but more often then not this is in their own half or just inside the opposition's.

Don't forget they play a very defensive formation aswell with 2 'holding' midfielders (albeit one's who are very comfortable with a football) and their top man was generally employed in a wide left capacity before Torres was dropped.

I think they only had 4 different goalscorers and Puyol was arguably their best player throughout the tournament which doesn't lend itself to 'total football.' How many on here can play 5 yard passes and one-two's in 5-a-side with their mates? It's not difficult.

Very disappointing World Cup for me which was again dictated mainly by the European powers and their fear of conceding.

[zebediah]

Originally Posted by Father Jack Hackett

This lauding of Spain as playing fantastic football is a myth IMO. Yes they do nice little triangles and one-twos, but more often then not this is in their own half or just inside the opposition's.

How many on here can play 5 yard passes and one-two's in 5-a-side with their mates? It's not difficult.

Yeah it's easy to just pass teams like Germany and Holland into oblivion, us lot down the dog and duck did it to Germany just the other week, I'll arrange for your 5-aside team to give them a spanking next week.

They are current European champions
They are current World champions

In both cases deserving to win even though they scored less this tournament, mainly due to opposition tactics and Torres unfit.
Historically this team will be considered one of the best ever.

[Father Jack Hackett]

Originally Posted by zebediah

Yeah it's easy to just pass teams like Germany and Holland into oblivion, us lot down the dog and duck did it to Germany just the other week, I'll arrange for your 5-aside team to give them a spanking next week.

They are current European champions
They are current World champions

In both cases deserving to win even though they scored less this tournament, mainly due to opposition tactics and Torres unfit.
Historically this team will be considered one of the best ever.

You didn't get my point whatsoever did you mate? It' all relative. What I'm saying is that if they are so good how do they not manage to break teams down so often? Is it lack of movement, lack of ambition? Passing the ball 5 yards under little pressure and when the opposition are defending deep should be a piece of piss to someone of that ilk and let's not forget they stick 10 behind the ball when not in possession.

You must have been watching a different game to me then if you thought they passed the Dutch into oblivion. The Dutch, for all their criticism arguably played the best 2 passes of the game in disecting the centre halves for Robben's 2 chances but don't let that stop you listening to the right reverend Alan Hansen and his sermons.