If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past twenty four hours you’d be aware of the fact that Spain have once again been crowned champions of Europe after an awe-inspiring 4-0 victory over Italy in last night’s Euro 2012 final. In spite of arduous comments from the media that their ‘Tiki-Taka’ style of football had become boring, La Roja silenced their critics once again by retaining their European Championship under the lights of Kiev’s Olympic stadium with a quite dazzling display of football. Here’s five important things we learned about Spain after the successful defence of their European title.
Five things we learnt about Spain at the Euros
The top 10 La Liga players of the 21st century
In football terms, few would argue that the 21st century has so far belonged to Spain. The national side has risen from the ranks of perennial under-achievers to become undeniably the dominant force in the international game, winning the European Championship and World Cup tournaments in succession.
European football fans have drooled over the sublime technical skills of Spanish clubs featuring stellar line-ups of home-grown talent mixed with modern greats of the game. Catalan giants FC Barcelona developed a side which has not only won every possible major honour in club football, but they’ve done it with the kind of entertaining style and flair which will ensure their place as one of the great club sides of all time.
The dominance which these two teams have inflicted on the beautiful game is evident in the media shock waves created when either side suffers a rare loss. But to pin the hopes and fears of Spanish football purely on Barca and the national squad would do a huge disservice to La Liga.
My Spanish 2012 Olympics Squad
Tickets may not have completely sold out for the Olympic Football event, but once the hype gears into full throttle then you can be sure to see queues from as far away as Cristiano Ronaldo believes he can score from. Accumulating players from 4 countries is no easy feat and a draft of nearly 200 players have been murmured so it’s unsurprising for us Brits to be perplexed as to what will materialise come August without a known squad as yet.
Spain don’t have to deal with that dilemma, and with their Under 21 squad winning the European Championships last year, the country (more…)
The magic of the Copa alive and kicking in Spain
With the recent trend of top sides putting out weakened teams for their domestic cup competition, an act claimed to be devaluing the prize and taking away that cup magic. It couldn’t be more different in Spain where last year’s Copa del Rey final was fiercely fought in Valencia’s Mestalla stadium by the giants of Spanish football Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Fuelled by Jose Mourinho’s desire to wrestle some trophies away from Pep Guardiola’s Barca, who it seems just want to win every prize put in front of them, a new found competitiveness had revitalised the Copa del Rey.
The top 10 Spanish football players of all time
While England has always laid claim to being the home of football, in the last few years the beautiful game has definitely taken a holiday home in sunny Spain. The two countries’ footballing histories have a lot in common. Great league and cup competitions, big-spending clubs, world-renound players, and one glorious international tournament triumph followed by years of expectation and disappointment – that is until recently. During the last five years, Spanish football has truly made its mark on the game.
The current period belongs, and will forever belong, to Spain. The international side has won successive European Cup and World Cup tournaments and is tipped by many to make it three in a row this summer. La Liga has produced more Champions League finalists and winners this century than any other country. And nine of the twelve FIFA World Player of the Year awards since 2000 have been won by La Liga players.
Away-day syndrome: Why Barcelona have struggled on the road this season
A 1-1 draw meant Barcelona surrendered yet another valuable two points at the hands of their local rivals Espanyol on Monday night making it already their fifth draw of the domestic season with four of them being away from home. The gap between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of the table has now stretched to a worrying five points for Pepe Guardiola’s men and with games coming thick and fast and time seemingly running out for the Catalonians, we ask the much debated question; exactly why have Barcelona struggled to break teams down on the road this season?
Ronaldo Reacts to Real Criticism
Cristiano Ronaldo refused to celebrate his goal against Granada during the weekend rout in a reaction to jeering from the Madrid crowd who were unhappy with his recent performances. The Portuguese striker has been under fire since his below-par showing in the Clasico and some fans feel that he can be quite selfish at times.
Scoring his 21st La Liga goal of the season and Madrid’s 5th in the 5-1 victory, Ronaldo simply bowed his head and trudged back to the halfway line almost as though he’d put it in the wrong net, refusing to acknowledge his team mates whatsoever. Madrid based sports paper, Marca. (more…)
The top 5 La Liga goals of 2011
As 2011 draws to a close and all is quiet on the La Liga front until matches resume again in 2012, we’ve taken the chance to look back at a selection of our favourite goals from the year gone by. We’ve selected what we believe in our opinion are the best 5 goals from the La Liga Primera division in 2011. So why not check them out and let us know what you think by commenting below?
Who needs David Beckham when you have Inigo Martinez?
For years now, football fans across the globe have reminisced about David Beckham’s debut season in the Premier League and that infamous goal he scored from the half way line against Wimbledon. It seems Spain after all these years now finally have their own answer to the long-range heroics of David Beckham in the form of novice Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez, who has already netted two stunning long-range goals from the half way line this season against both Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis respectively.
Versatility Allows Barcelona to be the Best
Attack minded in every sense of the word, we all know about the stunning capabilities of the strike force of Barcelona. Messi, Villa, Alexis, Pedro assisted by the more than capable Fabregas and Xavi score the majority and steal the plaudits in the process whilst the likes of Pique, Puyol, Abidal and Dani Alves stay out of the TV frame for 75% of the match.
Various scoring and passing feats are challenged but this season another aspect of Barcelona has caught the attention of statisticians; their misly defence. Just the 8 goals have been scored past Victor Valdes as Barcelona pose the tightest defence in the league unsurprisingly. (more…)
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