Semi-Neutral
Sir Alupp Heynrguson
I mean, if they went the right direction they would have saved them, but...
I don't like Brasil, so I hope Spain wins. I was hoping someone else would win something for once though, but I'm getting behind my Barca boys again
Any official MOTM yet? Was it Pique?
Another confirmation that at the highest level you need to have 2 defensive midfielders. Good teams are running through this Barca / Spain 4-3-3 at will. Alonso must return next year. And Barca should change its system as well.
2006, 2009, 2011. Do you think we were just lucky?
Also, in case you didn't notice, Spain had attacking problems, not defensive.
I think it's 2013 now.
You can't seperate attack and defense. When a team has a solid defensive structure the attackers can concentrate more on their own games. If Alonso had provided the much needed steel in midfield Iniesta could have played a lot more liberated and tried to make things happen in the final third instead of dropping back and helping to close down and if Alba wouldn't be such a defensive scrub, Pedro wouldn't have needed to track back so much like an additional leftback.
Xavi and del Bosque apparantely had this discussion as well where Xavi suggested the 4-3-3 whereas del Bosque and the Spanish coaching staff didn't agree. I hope Xavi doesn't become a coach. He's far too much into the Barca philosophy and doesn't see any other way of playing football.
So you are telling me that there is a major tactical shift between 2011 and 2013?
So you are telling me that there is a major tactical shift between 2011 and 2013?
Spain always struggled to score in knockout games, even with your successful double pivot. It is not something new.
The final will be between a team that plays double pivot vs a team that plays the Barcelona system. Let's wait to see the outcome.
Also, if you don't like Barcelona's philosophy and the way Barcelona plays, I wonder why you are(you are? because there are a lot of posters that support other teams.) a Barcelona fan?