Kevin Whitcher
In Euro 2000, Spain met France at the quarter final stage. The winners of that match eliminated Portugal in the semi final before triumphing in the final against Italy. So it was 12 years on, although this time, it was the Spanish that won the quarter final, justifying their status as pre-tournament favourites by lifting the trophy in Kiev yesterday evening.
Italy had played a marvelous semi-final to see off Germany, the team this observer thought would triumph against Spain, but Vincente Del Bosque’s team proved too wily, in spite of their relative youth. And if you consider that for a 25 year old like Cesc Fabregas, this is his fourth major finals tournament, you can see why experience is not an issue.
Spain had developed a bit of a reputation for nullifying games with their possession football, with a perceived lack of incisiveness making them a dull spectacle. There was some whistling early in the game from the stands when Spain kept the ball for periods of any length without moving forward. In fact, what they were doing – and have done for three tournaments now – is play result football. Sometimes, when the opposition opens up, things become more interesting. But until that occurs, the Spanish have developed the ability to control games through possession. It makes them very difficult to beat. If the opposition do not have the ball, then they can’t score. In their four knockout matches when winning the 2010 World Cup, the result was 1-0 every time.
In their semi-final, Portugal managed to get them on the back foot due to their fear of what Ronaldo and Nani could do to them. And it was a game that Portugal could have won, with Ronaldo spurning a glorious chance near the end of normal time. Ultimately, it took a penalty shoot-out to divide them. However, fortune has often played a part in victory. In 2008, Spain progressed thanks to spot-kicks against Italy in the quarter final.
The potential fatigue of playing extra time in their semi was outweighed by Italy playing their last four game a day later, only three days before the final. Additionally, Italy had played a 120 minute game of their own the weekend before to eliminate England. There seemed little doubt, as the final wore on, that Spain looked fresher. Having said that, looking at the possession stats towards the end of the game, for a long time, Italy enjoyed as much of the ball as Spain. Yet, much of this was in their own half. Service to their front men was limited, often restricted to long balls up to Balotelli, a tactic that had worked in the past, but not on this occasion.
Spain cut Italy apart with runs behind their defence from Fabregas and Alba respectively to produce the two first half goals. At the start of the second half, Italy had made two of their substitutions already. One assumes Cassano was simply exhausted, so there was little choice in either. They had a go for 15 minutes and Di Natale almost got them back into the game, but the replacement of Motta for Montelivio was the final throw of the dice, and when the substitute’s hamstring went almost immediately after he entered the fray, the game was up. The two late goals were no surprise, tired defenders picked apart by the fresh legs of Torres and Mata, but the scoreline harsh on Italy. They had been outplayed, but four goals did not reflect the difference between these two teams.
Spain will go to Brazil in two years’ time to defend the World Cup, but I would be very surprised if a South American side did not triumph there. Italy will have to rebuild without Pirlo, who was simply nullified in the final, often by the close attentions of Xavi. Germany will have to rethink because this very promising side often look unbeatable in the early stages of tournaments, only to fall when they meet either Spain or Italy. It’s becoming too much of a habit. Portugal will continue to rely on Ronaldo and come close but fall short. England need to work on their penalties, as that is the only way they will beat quality opposition in the knockout stages. France and Holland have to sort out their ego problems and get some harmony in the camp, so when the going isn’t so good, they can respond.
On the TV coverage front, in the build up to the game I was switching between BBC and ITV because Roy Keane has been the unquestioned star of this tournament. His scornful attitude towards proceedings in the studio punctures the self-importance that punditry has become. There is no doubt he is there under sufferance because no-one in their right mind is going to turn down the kind of sums ITV have doubtless offered to secure his services for doing so little. I’d wager good money his fee dwarfs those of his fellow pundits on the comfy cane chairs. I’d like to see him as the analyst during the actual commentaries, out of sheer fascination more than anything else. I have a feeling he’d tell it like it is, which would make for great entertainment. On that note, last night, I finally flipped, or more accurately switched. I began on BBC for the match itself, but Mark Lawrenson is just so unlistenable, I actually found Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend less annoying. And that takes some doing.
It’s been a fairly decent Euros tournament. They usually are these days due to the quality of the teams taking part. It lacks the variety of a World Cup but it’s still a football treat. Not sure how it will work with 24 teams in France 2016. And as for Platini’s idea of staging the finals in a number of different countries from 2020… er, no. I hope that one is voted down, but I suspect what the president suggests goes. Oh well. Ever heard the idea – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?
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