Spain and Italy, 2 Nations that have quite a lot in common.
Both in Southern Europe, both nations extremely religious, predominantly Roman Catholic. Both nations having a rich history and culture, both have given some of the best artists, thinkers, authors, explorers to the world. Both nations were under fascist dictatorships, and for quite some time, both of them were among the poorer nations in Europe. Of course, the sexiest females in the Western world too come from these two nations, but that is another topic altogether.
Apart from the above mentioned similarities, when it comes down to soccer, both nations are the masters at playing the attrition game. Attrition game is akin to a Mexican shootout, with each party waiting for the other to blink first, and then pulling off a heist.
Italy played this to perfection in 2006, pulling off a last minute heist against the Germans in the semi finals. Sadly with most of their team in 2010, over the hill, they could not pull off the same heist again in 2010, failing to even make it beyond round 2.
For decades Spain, has been seen as the wannabe on the block, having the talent, the potential, one of the best games ever, but never really making it to the podium. And in almost every other World Cup tournament, they became the victims of a late minute heist. The fact is that Spain went out like a cowboy, all guns blazing, but when it came to a Sergio Leone style Mexican shoot out they were caught napping.
In 1986 they thrashed Denmark in the Round of 16, but lost to Germany in the quarters. In 1990, they dominated the group with some dazzling play, but again became the victims of an inspired display by Yugoslavia. The same story in 1994, when a late goal by Baggio knocked them out in the Quarters, while their 1998 campaign was a disaster. In 2002, they choked on penalties to S.Koreain the Quarters, and in 2006, again an inspired display from France, knocked them out in the Pre Quarters.
So near yet so far, that seemed to be the story of Spain, much like S.Africa in cricket.
However winning the Euro 2008, seemed to have turned the corner for Spain. It seemed to have put behind it's bad habit of choking regularly. Now could Spain win the Ultimate Crown.
Did not seem so, when Swiss shocked them with a 0-1 defeat. But the Spaniards came back strongly, winning their next two matches, against Honduras and Paraguay.
Now if one takes the knockout phase of the World Cup 2010, at each stage Spain had to face a Mexican shootout.
The first were their Iberian neighbours, Portugal, masters themselves in this sphere, the Battle of Nuremberg in 2006 being the perfect example. But this time Spain did not blink, they held on and on, in spite of the game resembling more of a rugby match, with Portugal playing a negative, ugly game, and then Villa slotted in a superb goal.
Another attrition game against Paraguay, with Spain again holding on to their nerve, Villa being their hero.
And then the crucial semi final against the Germans, who had blitzed their way through against England and Argentina, and Spain which just scraped through, seemed to be easy pickings. But the Spaniards had a rock solid defence, and that was the Achilles heel of the Germans, something Serbia did much earlier. The Spanish did to the Germans what other teams did to them over the years, wearing them down, and then pulling off the heist. The sharp shooter gun slinger was now the master of the Mexican shootout.
Something Holland overlooked in the final, when it felt, that it's rough,negative game that fetched dividends against Brazil, would do the same in the final. The difference though that by now Spain had become the masters of the attrition game, they were more patient, more unyielding, and finally Holland had to yield.
As for the final, sadly one big anti climax to the tournament. Only one team was playing soccer, the other was playing Rugby. And in the end the team that played soccer won.
VIVA ESPANA!!!You Deserve it. And I have no tears for Holland, they played Rubbish in the finals, and deserve to lose for their negative attitude.
