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Euro 2008- Group D (R); GRE, SWE, ESP, RUS
Topic Started: May 22 2008, 10:55 AM (987 Views)
shelsoccer
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It's possible that Lagerback is just holding his cards close to his vest and trying to keep Spain guessing.

Spain are the favorites tomorrow, but I doubt anyone in the Swedish locker room is looking at this an automatic loss. Remember, these teams split results in qualifying, each winning at home.
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Pepe
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That is true and I expect Sweden to be a tough opponent but they'll let Spain play, like Russia did, which is something the Greeks won't do. I'd rather Spain play this sort of team than Greece. Aragones should sue the same 11 who played versus Russia.
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Pique
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Pepe,Jun 13 2008
03:34 PM
That is true and I expect Sweden to be a tough opponent but they'll let Spain play, like Russia did, which is something the Greeks won't do. I'd rather Spain play this sort of team than Greece. Aragones should sue the same 11 who played versus Russia.

Styles make a fight and Pepe I feel is correct in thinking that Sweden's open way of playing should make for an attractive game versus Spain. If Spain mixes it's possession game with quick, direct play as they did versus Russia, they'll be hard to beat. But the questions about Spain's central defense may be answered today when they go against Larsson and Ibrahimovic.
Esas son las leyendas de futbol mexicano,
En todo Mexico hay un Chiva hermano!
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Don Balon
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I feel as Pique does that Sweden will provide Puyol and Marchena with a good test of how they can handle a good set of forwards. Spain need to keep the ball moving and as discussed here mix up possession play with a more direct style. If they do that they should keep Sweden off balance much as they did against Russia. Two years ago in Germany, Spain peaked after crushing Ukraine in it's opening game, now we'll find out if the big win over Russia was the apex of their tournament or the begnning of something special.
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Manzanares
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After watching Holland play their first two games I don't think any team wants to face them in the quarterfinals so that should motivate both Spain and Sweden today. As others already noted no changes are expected for Spain and amazingly we could after today's games have all 4 group winners decided after only 2 maches! Where's the parity in the European game gone?

I'll add my welcome to culespur.
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Simon
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Spain 2-1 Sweden

I thought that was a let down of a game. Spain didn't play very well after their vibrant performance against Russia, and Isaksson in the Swedish goal didn't have a great deal to do. The game really petered out in the second half and it looked like both sides were reasonably content with a draw, but right at the end one long ball caught out the previously pretty sturdy Swedish defence and David Villa continued his great start to the tournament with a coolly-taken finish.

Spain will have to pick their play up from that performance, but on the other hand it's often said that the mark of a champion team is that they can still pull out a win even when the overall performance is unconvincing, and with finishers of the calibre of Torres and Villa that is always a possibility.
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shelsoccer
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OK, I've calmed down a little. If you'd told me yesterday that Sweden was going to get beat on a corner kick and a long ball, I would have bet my mortgage you'd be wrong.

Spain were semi-deserving winners. "Semi" because they weren't very convincing, as Simon noted.

I thought for the first quarter of the game Spain was quite dynamic. They were doing a good job getting runners in behind Stoor and Nilsson, though while threatening, they didn't get anything out of it.

After scoring, I thought Spain sat back too much and, for the only period of the game, Sweden had better possession for the remainder of the first half. I thought Zlatan's tying goal was deserved.

The second half was pretty dull. Spain abandoned those runs behind Sweden's outside backs or maybe Sweden adjusted -- I'd have to analyze my recording of the game -- and did little beside circulate the ball or try to beat 2-3 Swedish defenders through the middle off the dribble. For its part, Sweden was pretty toothless without Zlatan up front.
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Real Ray
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Spain...I just wonder if they have the ability to play more direct when they need to. They can do it-we've seen goals in both games when they played it mored direct. But they do at times get bogged down in front of the area a bit like Arsenal.

Having said that, the more they roll on winning, the more I think their belief grows. And Aragones has shown that he will not be afraid to make changes as needed. So...I think Spain should go deep in this Euro.
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valenciano
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I'm concerned about Puyol's injury and Sweden fans like shelsoccer should feel the same about Ibrahimovic. After scoring Spain did fall somewhat into a funk and even after Sweden tied it through Ibrahimovic, Spain had difficulty beating Sweden's packed in defense in the 2nd half. but like Real Ray wrote, when Spain mixes it up and plays more directly, and they are capable of doing that, they can breakdown any defense with fast, dynamic finishers like Villa and Torres.

Not as impressive a win as against Russia but a more difficult opponent. Sweden defend well but they'll need Ibrahimovic healthy to make a run. As Spain moves on and plays teams who will be less likely to sit back and defend I think Spain will have more opportunities to strike quickly like they did tonight to win the game.

And I also would like to welcome our new posters Real Ray and culespur.
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Pepe
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What a goal from David Villa to win that match! Individual brilliance using his speed and his technique to get past the Swedish defenders. That is the importance of having individuals who can win a match on their own. Ibrahimovic is capable of doing that for Sweden and eh in fact did that in scoring the Swedish goal but once he left, Sweden didn't cause any danger other than one free kick which was sent in across the face of goal. Spain had patience in the 2nd half looking for the openings and Aragones showed confidence in his bench by bringing Cesc and Cazorla in for Xavi and Iniesta. It is key to give these bench players some minutes so that they'll be ready as the tournament continues.

Sweden defend well and are a strong team but Spain are showing determination and skill in Euro 2008 and this was a win which will enable them to rest some players for the quarterfinals. It is an important step forward, now they'll have to hope Puyol's injury isn't serious.
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SuperEagle
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Pepe,Jun 14 2008
05:21 PM
What a goal from David Villa to win that match! Individual brilliance using his speed and his technique to get past the Swedish defenders. That is the importance of having individuals who can win a match on their own. Ibrahimovic is capable of doing that for Sweden and eh in fact did that in scoring the Swedish goal but once he left, Sweden didn't cause any danger other than one free kick which was sent in across the face of goal. Spain had patience in the 2nd half looking for the openings and Aragones showed confidence in his bench by bringing Cesc and Cazorla in for Xavi and Iniesta. It is key to give these bench players some minutes so that they'll be ready as the tournament continues.


That is an important point I feel. You need a team who play collectively but within that collective framework to be truly successful, most teams do need at least one individual who can win a game on his own, whether that be a goal like that scored by David Villa on Saturday or Gianluigi Buffon's penalty save on Friday. Spain seem to have an abundance of individuallly talented players and ultimately that is what helped them snatch this late game winning goal against an otherwise well drilled and solid Swedish team.
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historyman
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As you've highlighted, Spain were not as impressive or fluent as they were against Russia, but boy, both of their goals were exceptional. Brilliant pass from Villa to Silva from the short corner, then Silva's whipped cross was amazingly put in by Torres at full stretch.

And what about Villa's winner right at the end? The mark of a truly great striker. He'd been relatively quiet for most of the game and then pops up when it really matters to take advantage of some suspect Swedish defending. He made it look so effortless.

It's looking promisng for Spain, but again we'll have to wait and see whether their fingers are hovering over the self-destruct button.

The best news of the competition so far: GREECE ARE OUT! :D

Outside of Greece and her diaspora, church bells are ringing amidst festivals of thanksgiving. Russia did just about enough to win the game and send the Greeks packing. Otto Rehagel's team have had their place in the sun, and now it's time to play football in the genuine spirit of the game once more. As Danny Blanchflower once said:

"The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."

Russia should have won by a more comfortable margin. That they didn't was largely down to Pavluchenko, who is a good player, but is one of the greediest strikers that I've ever seen. Often that can be a positive quality in a forward, but he needs to remember that the rules of the game allow him to pass to a better placed team mate.

If Russia do qualify his attitude may cost them dearly.
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rosarino
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Well said historyman! Greece's elimination is something to be happy about and Pavyluchenko was very selfish. Maybe we expected too much from them considering Hiddink is their coach and after Zenit's great UEFA Cup triumph but Russia just seems like a very average team to me. I don't see them beating Sweden provided Ibrahimovic plays.

Again I'll agree with historyman's comments on Spain. Their set play on that corner was beautiful to watch and even though Sweden did stop playing once Ibrahimovic went off, Spain still kept looking for the openings against the solid Nordic defense and eventually got it through Villa's great individual play. This appears to be a pretty resilient Spain team.
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Merengue
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Resilience is a good word to describe Spain's play in that victory over Sweden. People often wrongly condemn Spain for lacking a fighting spirit but this has often been a team who score dramatic late game winning goals (Antonio Maceda in Euro 1984, Alfonso Perez in Euro 2000 and now David Villa in Euro 2008 as three major examples.) I liked how Aragones was not afraid to change the team by bringing in Cesc and Cazorla for two of the team's iconic players (Xavi and Iniesta). But they weren't playing that well as Sweden closed them down well and restricted Spain's space to operate in.

I thought Marcos Senna was everywhere and Silva ran his socks off although I wish he would learn to shoot with his right so he doesn't have to switch the ball to his left everytime he needs to shoot. It would have been easy to give up and settle for the draw especially after Sweden essentially renounced attacking in the last 1/4 of an hour but Spain kept searching and eventually found it's answer with that long ball forward to Villa. The team can mix a tiqui-taca possession game with quick strikes. Now Spain has the luxury of resting some players in what now is a meaningless game versus already eliminated Greece.
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badgerboy
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It seems I'm still more impressed with Russia than anyone else on here.

I like their attacking style even if they are - for the moment - far from the finished article.

They have I think one of the youngest squads in the tournament & are clearly building for the future (presumably 2010).

The return of Andrei Arshavin against Sweden ought to make a huge difference although the frailty of the Russians defending (especially if Ibrahimovic plays) combined with the solidity of the Swedes at the back (Russia have to win) makes their progress less of a foregone conclusion than I had hoped it would be at this stage.

Sweden are currently a far more "solid unit" but I'd rather see a Quarter-Final of Holland 6 Russia 3 than a tight game between Holland & Sweden with the Swedes trying to get a 1-0 on the break or win it on penalties.
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