By Joshua Rogers
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DON'T MISS
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La Furia Roja has been elegantly unleashing their anger on any footballing foe almost foolish enough to think of disrespecting them for the better part of 3 years now. First they conquered Europe in ’08 and as the world watched on, flamboyantly passed the world to death in 2010 with a brand of football so mesmerising, the great Brazil teams of the past would have substituted Samba for Salsa.
England, in contrast, have endured a humiliating 3 years in failing to even secure a place at Euro ’08 and, more recently, spanked by the swashbuckling Germans at the World Cup. The English national side has managed to disgrace a very proud footballing nation and managed to replace the grittiness, determination and spirit that once personified the personality of English football with laziness, carelessness and despondency. Their dismal record has even lead to the ridiculous questioning of Fabio Capello’s capabilities as a manager.
With both teams having secured their places at Euro 2012, in yet again, totally contrasting fashions, a friendly between the two should only have one outcome as England hosted Spain at Wembley. However, Spain have had an uncustomary past few months in losing friendlies to Argentina, Portugal, Italy and by the end of the night, shockingly England, as a Frank Lampard header from close range gave the hosts a 1-0 win and the opportunity to brag the flattering statistic of being unbeaten in 2011.
Vicente del Bosque gave starts to the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, David Silva and David Villa with a clear intention of engineering a possession-filled away win. Fabio Capello announced prior to the match that he had no fear for Spain. If this were to be true, the starting IX he named showed if not fear, then a certainly endearing respect for the world champions in naming a 5 man midfield containing the likes of Frank Lampard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott and Phil Jones with Darren Bent on his lonesome up front (Playing for a draw then Fab?).
If Capello had sent out his team to simply not lose, then at halftime he was achieving it as Spain had dominated the ball but were yet to register a shot, while Frank Lampard had strangely enough notched up a very optimistic attempt on target for England. The second half was more eventful with good ol’ Captain Lamps (yes, I am quite hard on the guy) nodding home from a yard as he profited from a good leap and header from Darren Bent. This proved to be the match-winner as England produced a stellar defensive team display, with a little help from inaccuracy and bad luck on the part of Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets and David Villa and a man-of-the-match performance from Scott Parker in defensive midfield.
How England Won It
Fabio Capello named a team with intent to restrict Spain and capitalise on any counter-attack or set piece. He admitted before the game this England team is not as talented as others of the past and a man as tactically astute as he is was not going to intentionally send out a team at home to be slaughtered. Therefore, it was no coincidence that the team named contained a lack of flair but made up for it in industry in the likes of Milner, Parker, Jones and Lampard, as well as arguably England’s best finisher, Darren Bent. The midfield contrived with the defence containing a much improved Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka and experience in Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson to negate Spain’s desire to hypnotise England with their movement. England were very efficient in defending as a team and, with more composure on the part of Jones, could have capitalised on opportunities when they broke down Spanish attacks. However, they did make the most of a set piece as Milner earned the freekick which he lofted in for Bent to do what Bent does and make the most of a half-chance as he provided a sitter for the skipper.In a rearguard display, England have no better player than Scott Parker. Now here is a lad that’s gone from strength to strength and benefitted from being a top class student of the game for years (probably, from single-handedly playing virtually every position for West Ham for 2 seasons). In my opinion, he deserves any positive achievement that comes his way. He proved in this match that he has the legs to chase down the best and England could not have shut out Spain without his timely interceptions, textbook tackling and neat distribution. England have been provided with a gem from their capital city in this hardworker who epitomises determination and grit and he deserved the MOTM plaudits for this display.
How Spain Lost It
For all the positives England can take away from this match for Spain it was more a question on how they had nothing to show for their efforts. Surely in a match where Xavi ticked up another A+ Pass Completion Percentage, Xabi Alonso pinged the 60 yarders for fun and Iniesta, Villa and Silva shared passes so intricate, that it could have lead one to believe that God could have been performing a surgical procedure on the field, subsequently ensuring that the Spaniards would head home with inflated egos. The answer to how they lost is simple, in bragging 71% of the possession you have to work the keeper more than 3 times and make the most of the chances you do make. This may sound as a callous criticism, but possession in your own half is as much good as a sexy nun, and I’ll be harsh as Spain should have, and ought to have won this one. However, apart from David Villa’s sublime touch and volley which rebounded off the post, Spain fluffed their lines in front of goal and fell victim to a lack of cutting edge and conceding to a set piece.To analyse Spain’s chances, they had four. The first of these was when Villa was released by a perfect through ball as his run caught Jagielka out. However, it would be tactless to call this a chance but more a half-chance as Joe Hart did well to come off his line and not go to ground, sending the striker away from goal at full tilt to attempt and audacious finish from an acute angle. Secondly, Villa can feel hard done by that he was not rewarded for an awesome display of technique as his volleyed shot rebounded off the woodwork. And England soldiered on. The third chance fell to Fabregas as he was through on goal and should have tested Hart, but opted to cut it back across the face to allow Parker to make another decent interception. Finally, Fabregas really ought to have scored their final chance, as he found space with a good advanced run on the break but got his feet into a muddle and scuffed it wide. On another day he would have easily stuck the ball in the back of the net and pumped his fists like a mad raver on a high dose of ecstasy as he celebrated. However, on this day he was made to rue the mistake of leaving his better boots in Catalonia.
Verdict
In a match where both teams could take several positives away from their performances, Spain may have more of a concern heading into the Euro’s as holders and favourites. If they fail to find a cutting edge they may struggle to break down the more organised defences with teams like Germany, Netherlands, France, Portugal and Italy all staking a serious claim for this tournament.
All this team needs to cap of their unerring class, is that ruthless finisher who continues to be searching high and low to find a vein of goal-scoring form (a certain “el nino” perhaps?) and possibly then they would be more than able take the continent by storm once more. England, on the other hand, could capitalise on a new “underdog” status and a lowering of expectation on them to win. Fabio Capello has unearthed some good talent in youth such as Jack Rodwell, Danny Wellbeck and Phil Jones who are all hungry to play for their country. He has also shown his team that they are capable of shutting out the best, but he also has to teach them to play against the best. However, with the potential additions of Jack Wilshere and Wayne Rooney, providing he goes to the Euro finals, they have a group that is certainly competent of a conjuring some formidable displays.
We'd like to give a big thanks to Josh Rogers for taking time out of his schedule to write this article for theRYGOchannel, bless up. Join the discussion, share your views and opinions in the comment section below!
We'd like to give a big thanks to Josh Rogers for taking time out of his schedule to write this article for theRYGOchannel, bless up. Join the discussion, share your views and opinions in the comment section below!
