Yes - I remember Spanish refs in the early 90s being notorious for wanting to be the stars

something that got remarked on quite a lot in World Soccer and elsewhere.

As you suggest, it'll be interesting to see what happens when the rest of the world catches up with them. Such is the history of tactical innovation: a team (eg Arsenal in the Thirties or Hungary in the Fifties) finds a way of playing that works brilliantly, and eventually other sides adapt or counter the tactic and supersede them (usually assisting by the innovating team waning/ageing).

Inter found a way to counter Barca (Spain are basically Barca-lite - without Dani Alves, Messi and Abidal) but it relied on absolutely brilliant defenders/goalkeeper and a good deal of luck. Not many teams are going to pull that off.

Posted By: Ottosson Foxtrot on July 8th 2010 at 17:55:32

Message Thread

Another interesting piece on the Spanish national side: (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 8, 17:35:51
- I think the interesting suggestion is that they adapted most quickly to the changing rules (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Jul 8, 17:50:47
  - Yes - I remember Spanish refs in the early 90s being notorious for wanting to be the stars (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 8, 17:55:32
- Got a bit lost in that, gave up after few paragraphs (Other Football) - pants, Jul 8, 17:43:45
  - it was interesting but a bit repetitive and ignores the fact (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Jul 8, 17:46:05
    - Yeah I've seen a fair bit of south american football recently (Other Football) - pants, Jul 8, 18:08:45
      - I've not seen much of Colombia (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Jul 8, 18:14:41
        
        Yeah, I have it on in the background some weekends (Other Football) - pants, Jul 8, 18:20:25
        
        I do like Mex football, they seem not to bother with defence (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Jul 8, 18:22:42
        
        what happened to colombian football? (Other Football) - SCC 28, Jul 8, 18:16:14
        
        I had money on them to win the group that time (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Jul 8, 18:21:47
        
        oh so it was you who shot escobar (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Jul 8, 18:22:19
        
        I wasn't too chuffed with him, no (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Jul 8, 18:24:21
    - spain remind me of andy roddick (Other Football) - SCC 28, Jul 8, 17:48:28
      - Someone in the comments section compares them to Pete Sampras (and Stephen Hendry) (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 8, 17:50:49
        
        gives you museum leg and brain (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Jul 8, 17:56:05
        
        "I've run out of look", I remember someone saying to me in a gallery once. (n/m) (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Jul 8, 17:58:25
        
        lol, that sums it up nicely (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Jul 8, 18:03:09
        
        my one visit to a gallery (Other Football) - SCC 28, Jul 8, 18:01:06
        
        your one visit? (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Jul 8, 18:05:18
        
        i'm not really into art (Other Football) - SCC 28, Jul 8, 18:06:20
        
        fair enough (Other Football) - Worzel Scrimmage, Jul 8, 18:08:12
        
        you are truly a renaissance man. (n/m) (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Jul 8, 18:02:58
        
        Also saw them compared to Nadal today - one trick, which they do better than anyone else (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Jul 8, 17:52:59
        
        murray owns him on hard court (Other Football) - SCC 28, Jul 8, 17:55:16
        
        LOL (n/m) (Other Football) - SCC 28, Jul 8, 17:51:49

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