Germany had a newfangled swift, stylish game, but did they have the fight of old Or was the revamp so complete that any old traditional German-ness had been done away with Carles Puyol’s bomber-like header over a quarter from the end was the perfect script for Germany to turn back the clock.
For once, at the World Cup, they couldn't and with them, departed one of the most captivating ideas of this tournament.
Spain, with all their inventiveness and imagination, have deservedly set up footballs dream date with the technically-brilliant Dutch in Soccer City on Sunday.
Football deserves this most fitting of final battles, the aesthetes dream where finding of the angle to the goal will be a more satisfying and breathtaking experience than scoring itself.
On Wednesday, in Durbans Moses Mabhida Stadium, over 60, 000 were held enthralled by an exhibition of high-end football as Germany were forced off the rails with a super show of possession football by Spain in the second semifinal.
Forcing the Germans to play at their pace, as they jabbed and cut away Xavi and Iniesta playing a strange mixture of matador and maitreid, the men carving out and handing over the portions Spain went about their business of nullifying their rivals, by passing the ball, asking it back, and then passing it once again.
By doing this, they had already created a million dazzling chances, and had it not been for the absence of a left foot in Xabi Alonsos repertoire, or was it his and his teams fondness to keep on passing, they would have won by over a couple of superblycrafted goals.
It was a second half of dazzling football Andres Iniesta slicing away from under the normally-solid and experienced Phillip Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger along the left flank as he twisted and turned his foot and hip at will and came over any challenge. As the rest joined into the fray, for once, David Villa took a backseat and watched.
After weathering a late first-half onslaught by the untypically silent Germans, Spain had garnered nearly over 60 per cent possession in the first half not an entirely terrible prospect if it doesn't come with a few goals alongside, but it can still be terrifying for the team without the ball.
Xavi,Iniesta,Alonso and Pedro then, kept the Germans on their toes, their eyes rivetted at closing off any gaps exposed. Maybe Thomas Mueller’s absence and quick game was sorely missed, for Germany just couldn't turn on their own magic. In a goalless first half, that they had managed to keep the dangerous Villa in check was working to the Germans benefit.
Kept under his thumb by the tall Per Mertesacker and his central defending partner, Arne Friedrich after the sixth minute lapse, where the Spaniard found himself free with a clever Pedro through, and one which almost put them in arrears, Germany then focussed on dismantling the Spanish first line of defence Sergei Busquets and Alonso and the wide gap-leaving Sergio Ramos.
When they did get the ball, however, the Germans showed flashes of their recent fearsome form.
Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football-world-cup/news/Spain-make-maiden-World-Cup-final/articleshow/6141367.cms
For once, at the World Cup, they couldn't and with them, departed one of the most captivating ideas of this tournament.
Spain, with all their inventiveness and imagination, have deservedly set up footballs dream date with the technically-brilliant Dutch in Soccer City on Sunday.
Football deserves this most fitting of final battles, the aesthetes dream where finding of the angle to the goal will be a more satisfying and breathtaking experience than scoring itself.
On Wednesday, in Durbans Moses Mabhida Stadium, over 60, 000 were held enthralled by an exhibition of high-end football as Germany were forced off the rails with a super show of possession football by Spain in the second semifinal.
Forcing the Germans to play at their pace, as they jabbed and cut away Xavi and Iniesta playing a strange mixture of matador and maitreid, the men carving out and handing over the portions Spain went about their business of nullifying their rivals, by passing the ball, asking it back, and then passing it once again.
By doing this, they had already created a million dazzling chances, and had it not been for the absence of a left foot in Xabi Alonsos repertoire, or was it his and his teams fondness to keep on passing, they would have won by over a couple of superblycrafted goals.
It was a second half of dazzling football Andres Iniesta slicing away from under the normally-solid and experienced Phillip Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger along the left flank as he twisted and turned his foot and hip at will and came over any challenge. As the rest joined into the fray, for once, David Villa took a backseat and watched.
After weathering a late first-half onslaught by the untypically silent Germans, Spain had garnered nearly over 60 per cent possession in the first half not an entirely terrible prospect if it doesn't come with a few goals alongside, but it can still be terrifying for the team without the ball.
Xavi,Iniesta,Alonso and Pedro then, kept the Germans on their toes, their eyes rivetted at closing off any gaps exposed. Maybe Thomas Mueller’s absence and quick game was sorely missed, for Germany just couldn't turn on their own magic. In a goalless first half, that they had managed to keep the dangerous Villa in check was working to the Germans benefit.
Kept under his thumb by the tall Per Mertesacker and his central defending partner, Arne Friedrich after the sixth minute lapse, where the Spaniard found himself free with a clever Pedro through, and one which almost put them in arrears, Germany then focussed on dismantling the Spanish first line of defence Sergei Busquets and Alonso and the wide gap-leaving Sergio Ramos.
When they did get the ball, however, the Germans showed flashes of their recent fearsome form.
Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football-world-cup/news/Spain-make-maiden-World-Cup-final/articleshow/6141367.cms
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