Pirlo's got experience of a major final looking all over at half-time then turning round in the second half. Maybe tonight is his personal retribution for Istanbul.
Super finish by Alba, clear on the slo-mo that he was telegraphing far post then a quick low finish to the near post, had Buffon completely fooled. That was Xavi that set him up, wasn't it?
If Torres comes on in the second, he's going to have some chances, the Italian central defenders are looking very slow.
Outstanding football, and Spain have been as entertaining as they have been effective - perhaps because they don't have to play at this level against everyone, but can turn it on when they need.
I thought they had a deliberate tactic to put in some long range shots at the start, this pulled the Italians out from their penalty box line later on and the Spanish love to pass in to a runner behind the defensive line.
When they play like this, you can also understand why they play without a striker - because the whole team has to defend and press and pass and do everything, and they have no room for dead wood, or to lose 10% of their outfield efficiency. I bet if they had a 2009 era Torres they would play him and adapt their tactics accordingly, but why play someone who is out of form or not up to scratch anyway?
Balotelli is just getting in the way, he's fantastic at counters with a bit of space or with the ball near the goal, but not all that good at building up attacks in front of the defense.
Can everybody agree to make Alba player of the tournament? Please? (Obviously, Spain does play with a forward, he just plays at left back.)
On the other hand, he's quite possibly the only Spanish player with any pace (maybe, Iniesta, fair enough), and the Italian defenders never even got into second gear to keep up with him.
This "no international team has ever won three tournaments on the spin" stuff still pisses me off; have the achievements of Uruguay been airbrushed from history or something?
Tony C wrote: This "no international team has ever won three tournaments on the spin" stuff still pisses me off; have the achievements of Uruguay been airbrushed from history or something?
This "no international team has ever won three tournaments on the spin" stuff still pisses me off; have the achievements of Uruguay been airbrushed from history or something?
I wonder if this Spanish performance backs up the tiredness theory for their lack of spark in the rest of the tournament?
In that, with at least six weeks or so before their next game, the players are finally giving everything they had been holding in reserve in the games up until now knowing they will get some kind of rest after their exertions.
Comment