Agreed.

And the way the pundits relentlessly blame Spain's opposition for the games being boring is a simplification - Spain's keep-the-ball-at-all-costs style, being especially reluctant to relinquish it by running at the opposition (the most exciting thing in football), playing long but accurate passes or chancing on a shot, means that teams have no option but to play defensively, because you can't attack without the ball.

Spain's style is brilliantly effective and technically astute, and can only work with a group of highly technically skilled players who've been together for a long time, but its intention is to kill games and put them in a position to win (by whatever margin) rather than to thrill.

Posted By: Ottosson Foxtrot on July 12th 2010 at 13:47:25

Message Thread

Anyone who thinks last night was 'the worst final ever' (Other Football) - The Judge, Jul 12, 12:36:41
- I thought it was dreadful and watched all those finals you mentioned (Other Football) - stringersrevenge, Jul 12, 12:47:11
  - I really don't get this Spain are boring thing. I'd love to watch football played like (Other Football) - BINMEN8R, Jul 12, 13:00:11
    - I think they're boring. (Other Football) - APB, Jul 12, 13:12:19
      - Agreed. (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 12, 13:47:25
        
        But how can you run with the ball when there are three, four or five defenders (Other Football) - Huge Small, Jul 12, 14:02:13
        
        With the exception of the latter, though, that's a consequence of Spain compressing (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 12, 14:16:26
        
        Well i think it was more to do with the reluctance of the Dutch to get out of their own ha (Other Football) - Huge Small, Jul 12, 14:32:29
        
        Ramos and Jesus Navas both managed to run at the Dutchies (Other Football) - Old Git, Jul 12, 14:07:44
        
        And Iniesta did try (n/m) (Other Football) - Huge Small, Jul 12, 14:13:12
        
        Iniesta was becoming more dangerous as the game went on (Other Football) - Brandonio, Jul 12, 14:19:45
        
        He was good at falling over too ... ;) (n/m) (Other Football) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Jul 12, 14:21:22
      - I agree 100% (n/m) (Other Football) - stringersrevenge, Jul 12, 13:16:13
    - totally agree (n/m) (Other Football) - shoddy, Jul 12, 13:10:10
  - Nice analogy (n/m) (Other Football) - The Judge, Jul 12, 12:48:49

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