World Cup Anyone?

[steph]

Originally Posted by richardksa

And if they lose ...

...b-b-but, they can’t! The Oracle (aka Paul the Octopus) has already spoken.

[steph]

Originally Posted by kenpeace

http://bit.ly/dud4Dg

AWESOME vid! Yo deseo estuve allí ahora.

(¡Jejeje! Was that even correct???)

[parubin]

¡¡ CAMPEONES DEL MUNDO !!

[ValenciaSon]

ENHORABUENA ESPA˜NA!!

[Legazpi]

What a relief! Holland were really ugly tonight, and I feared they might "do an Italy" and somehow sneak an undeserved win. However the best team (in the world) won and I'm hoping Spain's success will influence how other countries approach football from now on: with more style, intelligence and teamwork, and less physicality, showing off and cheating.

[Drummer]

I wonder if there will be any parties going on tonight in Spain? LOL

[ValenciaSon]

[asturiasjohn]

somehow I managed to press record just as Iniesta scored

http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_shackleton/4786447501/

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Legazpi

What a relief! Holland were really ugly tonight, and I feared they might "do an Italy" and somehow sneak an undeserved win. However the best team (in the world) won and I'm hoping Spain's success will influence how other countries approach football from now on: with more style, intelligence and teamwork, and less physicality, showing off and cheating.

Spain are a team of great skill but I've got to say they dive around at the slightest contact. They are not perfect. Also being the lowest scoring Champions ever despite all that neat passing they are not entertaining in every aspect of the game.

[fawlty]

Originally Posted by ValenciaSon

Yes,this gave me frequent pulpotations!

[Pippa]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Spain are a team of great skill but I've got to say they dive around at the slightest contact.

It looks like Cruyff is not of the same opinion. The guardian

Do you call that the slightest contact? And he only got a yellow card!!

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Pippa

It looks like Cruyff is not of the same opinion. The guardian

Do you call that the slightest contact? And he only got a yellow card!!

I couldn't find anything about diving/simulation in the article. Yes Holland were dirty in the final. I'm not arguing against that. I'm not saying Alonso dived when De Jong did his karate kick. Spain players in games often throw themselves when merely brushed against.

England players are starting to do it more these days. I blame all those "continentals" (as the ex-player pundits call anyone from overseas) for introducing diving into the Premier League. In England our bad side was dirty tackling till not long ago. Many from other parts of the world still think the English game as played in the leagues is too rough.

I don't want to sound like I'm carping about Spain's win. Spain were the best team in my opinion.

[Legazpi]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Spain are a team of great skill but I've got to say they dive around at the slightest contact. They are not perfect. Also being the lowest scoring Champions ever despite all that neat passing they are not entertaining in every aspect of the game.

I can't think of any Spanish players who "dive" - although British players do try to stay on their feet more. I admit it is frustrating for British players to have to pull out of what they'd consider to be fair challenges because they know the opposing players will go down easily and probably win a free kick. But on the other hand if left to its own devices, the British game might easily revert to long ball tactics. What's needed is a more consistent application of the law, so players can adapt the way they play accordingly. But this is difficult because football supporters in the UK demand a different interpretation of the law than those in Spain.

However the fact is Spain do play positively - always trying to attack (albeit less directly than in the UK). It was unusual for them to score so few goals (they scored many more in the qualifiers and in Euro 2008) - maybe the fact that Torres was so out of form had something to do with it.

[mightykaboosh]

Get that bloody shirt of our man!

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Legazpi

I can't think of any Spanish players who "dive" - although British players do try to stay on their feet more. I admit it is frustrating for British players to have to pull out of what they'd consider to be fair challenges because they know the opposing players will go down easily and probably win a free kick. But on the other hand if left to its own devices, the British game might easily revert to long ball tactics. What's needed is a more consistent application of the law, so players can adapt the way they play accordingly. But this is difficult because football supporters in the UK demand a different interpretation of the law than those in Spain.

However the fact is Spain do play positively - always trying to attack (albeit less directly than in the UK). It was unusual for them to score so few goals (they scored many more in the qualifiers and in Euro 2008) - maybe the fact that Torres was so out of form had something to do with it.

I've watched quite a lot of Spanish football on Sky TV in the UK. I can see why Sky like to show it. German football? Dutch football The Spanish league style is often an attacking style. It might be better to watch than La roja because with inferior teams possession changes sides more often.

[Pippa]

Originally Posted by mightykaboosh

Get that bloody shirt of our man!

I saw that on TV last night, and I must say he was taken by surprise by Reina, Puyol and Piqué. Cesc looked very, very embarrassed and took it off as soon as they let him do it.

[Stephen]

Reina is the joker of the Spain squad I read. I wonder if he can still joke around with his English speaking ability at Liverpool.

[Legazpi]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Reina is the joker of the Spain squad I read. I wonder if he can still joke around with his English speaking ability at Liverpool.

Yes I remember when Spain won Euro 2008 the whole team were presented in Plaza Colón in Madrid, and Reina practically ran the whole event for some considerable time, joking with the crowd, telling stories, introducing various acts, etc. The Spanish footballers tend to communicate with the public and media much more freely than in England. On the night before the final Tele 5 had Casillas live on air for quite some time, just chatting away. In England all the TV interviews are more staged and the players tend to be hidden from the media (unsurprisingly).