The final is finally here. Hopefully it's a good match but it seems that if there were two teams that would end a match in penalties, it'd be these two. I pray that doesn't happen. Should be interesting which formation the Italians and the Spanish come out in.
My grandma is 100% Italian so that is who I'm pulling for. Eating some homemade lasagna and knocking back a couple glasses of Italian wine. Forza Italia!!!
Another 4-6-0 formation for
Let's go Spain!
I would feel better if they have Villa healthy at striker but they're pretty much will go with all midfielders with Torres coming in as a sub later in the game
His injury mattered more than
His injury mattered more than I thought it would. He is really missed up top.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
Villa puts a lot of pressure
On opposing defense with his pace and scoring. Still, a great accomplishment for them to be in the championship game without Villa and Puyol.
If you're
in Canada today, please don't drive around honking your horn with Italian or Spanish flag if 'you' win or lose. It's Canada Day, fergodsakes! Show some respect or gtfo.
Note: flying both flags, say Italy and Canada is Ok in my books.
Anyone find a decent stream?
Anyone find a decent stream?
ESPN3.com
ESPN3.com
My kids are complaining that
My kids are complaining that the Italians can't sing.
GAME TIME! SPAIN TIME!
La
GAME TIME! SPAIN TIME!
La Furia Roja FTW!
Great run of play right
Great run of play right there.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
Damn it. Bad marking by
Damn it. Bad marking by Italian defenders there.
Damn did ESPN crap out for
Damn did ESPN crap out for anyone else?
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
Not working for me. None of
Not working for me. None of the ESPN channels are.
Yes, it did for me and I'm on
Yes, it did for me and I'm on vacation in Florida at Parc Soleil
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
Yup
ESPN2 is frozen too, not exactly great timing there WWL
ESPN3 is working fine BTW.
ESPN3 is working fine BTW.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
Way to go ESPN, biggest match
Way to go ESPN, biggest match of the year
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
Someone at ESPN isn't going
Someone at ESPN isn't going to get a good performance review
It seems to be working fine
It seems to be working fine now. Hopefully the rest of the match goes uninterupted.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
Gotta love the shameless MLS
Gotta love the shameless MLS plugs.
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
Why not. I'm a Galaxy fan so
Why not. I'm a Galaxy fan so I like the updates.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
Just a small jab at quality
Just a small jab at quality of current product verses plugged product.
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
My ESPN crapped out too... i
My ESPN crapped out too... i just reset my cable box, working now... thank god
loved the Barca->City
loved the Barca->City connection! rockin my Xavi shirt and my Kun Aguero shorts!
I have a strong feeling this
I have a strong feeling this will be the final score. Spain = Kings of the age old game of Keep Away
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
What I really love about
What I really love about Spain brings me back to my soccer days in high school. We employed a triangle style of movement that Spain use as well. Quick triangular passes as opposed to long ball or counter
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
possession is king.. goin on
possession is king.. goin on 450+ mins now without conceding
Looks like this one is over
Looks like this one is over :(
Agreed. Spain are such a
Agreed. Spain are such a technically skilled bunch. I would love to see a Brazil - Spain World Cup final if Brazil could finally play up to their potential in 2014. That would be a beautiful game. Imagine the international intrigue if Spain could continue their success that far.
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
It's hard to believe Brazil
It's hard to believe Brazil won't get to the finals in 2014.
Beautiful. The conquest is
Beautiful. The conquest is on.
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
Such a good signing for
Such a good signing for Barca.
All I want to see now is Torres come in at the half.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
I don't know much outside of
I don't know much outside of trying to watch Sunderland from the EPL because I have a man crush on McClain, but is Spain just more talented roster wide than any other Euro team? They seem to be just dominant while other teams have a superstar Spain just has depth of talent that is unmathched. Is it that or just great team play and strategy?
or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.
IMO, it is all of the above.
IMO, it is all of the above.
They probablly have the most technically proficient team in the world. If you tried to get England to play like Spain they would not be able to. They don't have the players to be able to play that tiki-taka style of soccer.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
Their midfielders are
Their midfielders are freaking brilliant. It's amazing that they can do so well without having an elite striker. Their defense is solid but how can it not be when you don't face many challenges thorughout a game.
Spain has really good team
Spain has really good team chemistry, owing to the fact that practically its whole starting lineup plays on one of two clubs (Real Madrid and Barcelona). Sometimes the rivalry between these two clubs can lead to in-fighting, but under the captaincy of Casillas (who is also an incredibly good goaltender) this hasn't been a problem.
They seem to have a psychological edge at this point as well. They've won some gut-wrenchers.
Some skeptics have raised
Some skeptics have raised questions about possible doping going on in Spanish soccer, and by extension the national side.
If this post (from a cycling forum) is correct, there is only token drug testing in the Spanish Liga, where virtually the entire national team competes.
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=458651&postcount=112
Hopefully the rumblings are not true, but it wouldn't shock me if it they were. Spanish athletes have suddenly been extremely successful in a number of sports over the past decade, and doping scandals have occurred there before (chiefly in cycling, but a doctor associated with FC Barcelona was previously implicated).
can balotelli answer?
he really needs to have the game of his life, again, but it looks to me like he's trying to do too much.
RIP my avatar, June 14, 1998 - October 26, 2012.
WHAT. A. RUN... see you at
WHAT. A. RUN... see you at the Nou next season Jordi!!!
Love that Spains' last major
Love that the last major tournament loss by the Spaniards happened to NORTHERN IRELAND.
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
I think it was Swiss
At first game of WC where they lost 1-0. Still, amazing at how great of a team Spain really are. I cannot comprehend how USA manage to beat them at 2008 confederation cup semi.
Just looked it up. You're
Just looked it up. You're right. Bad reporting on ESPN and worse paraphrasing by me. FAIL.
I'm going to treat you all the same. Like dogs. - Bo
I think what ESPN said was
I think what ESPN said was that the last time they lost after having a lead was in 2006 to Northern Ireland.
USA played lights out defense
USA played lights out defense in that game, and Spain also had big problems w/ the USA's height. Spain even had to stop kicking its corners in the air and instead settle for short corner kicks on the ground because they could not keep the ball.
It was the only way the USA (or just about any team) could try to successfully play Spain, and it worked that day.
M'Dog
Actually Howard
was brilliant in that game and USA were lucky that Spain didn't score 3 goals.
A clinic
Hala España
"gonna twist the cap off a green lizard" - Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich
Good showing by El Rojo
1
Good showing by El Rojo
1 more half to go!
I'd be interested to see
I'd be interested to see something on how location on the field affects the likelihood of a penalty being called. Its fairly obvious that "ticky-tack" trips and pushes near mid-field that do get called will never get called in or near the box
You can call it bad luck if you want...
but using your last substitution to put on a player who's just coming back from a hamstring pull was pushing the odds a bit. Unfortunate for the viewers, for sure....
^Agreed... a desperation
^Agreed... a desperation move. As much as I want spain to run away with it, kinda would like the drama of a 1 goal game for the fans..
Another 4-6-0 formation for Spain? Italy's midfield against Germany I'd say was even stronger than Spain's, and both of their strikers were constantly challenging for possession. Hope they play out of their minds like that again, today because I effing hate 120 scoreless minute games...
"that's why you don't go to Ohio State, Lawrence"