Are Spain boring?

[Doggy Styles]

If youve got the ball then the other side can't score. It's a game of mathematics.

That is a fair point, but the three most noted possession teams, Barcelona, Arsenal and Swansea, have won nothing between them this season.

[Doggy Styles]

The consensus among the pundits is that possession is the way forward. Yet Italy beat Germany with what I would call "Anglo-Saxon" goals i.e. the long ball. Having a midfielder like Pirlo who can deliver that long ball is good. If Italy could also find some swift wingers to bomb up and down the sides they could bypass the Spanish midfield.

True, pundits like a bandwagon. They were also raving about Germany's great young team until that game.

Being able to keep possession like Spain and Barcelona players is a great skill which few encourage in the UK. However, it should be a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.

Taking it to the nth degree is fairly new, and other sides will learn how to play against it. Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan seem to have worked out ways, it remains to be seen whether Italy do.

[doodab]

Taking it to the nth degree is fairly new, and other sides will learn how to play against it. Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan seem to have worked out ways, it remains to be seen whether Italy do.

They managed well enough in the group game. I suppose the question is will they try and score again or be tempted to shut up shop and hold out for penalties.

[BrilloPad]

Mrs BP wants Spain to win - apparently the players are better looking.

[oscarose]

With all those fiery latin temperaments I'm expecting especially if Italy get their nose in front.

Well lets hope so. Could turn into a diving fest if it gets tasty.

[doodab]

They seem to have found the cutting edge. Definitely not boring so far.

[Doggy Styles]

They seem to have found the cutting edge. Definitely not boring so far.

They certainly weren't.

[sbakoola]

Spain 4 - Italy 0

[SimonMac]

I wouldn't say boring, even when they play with no one up front and 6 midfielders the sheer elegance of passing is something to behold, but tonight they showed they can be ruthless in front of goal, no doubt Italy going down to 10 helped a lot.

On the plus side, one for trophy the Spanish can melt down to pay off their Euro bailout

[oscarose]

I wouldn't say boring, even when they play with no one up front and 6 midfielders the sheer elegance of passing is something to behold, but tonight they showed they can be ruthless in front of goal, no doubt Italy going down to 10 helped a lot.

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