I think the interesting suggestion is that they adapted most quickly to the changing rules

when I went to live in Spain in the mid 90s, I remember being really struck by two things about their football.

First, the refs there were personalities, stars almost. They got rated in match reports, and each had different reputations. That seemed completely weird at the time - there was nothing similar in England. Refs were pretty much completely indidtinct from each other here.

Well, we've well and truly caught up on that.

And second. a big part of the game there was about 'winning' fouls - I remember thinking it was like basketball. Whereas here, at the time, a foul was a foul. Sure you had a few players who dived - but winning free kicks wasn't a central part of the game.

Again, I'd say we've prety much caught up there, too.

So I reckon there might be some truth in it, perhaps - world football has kind of converged on some of the things that were going on there before. Maybe it's less surprising that they're better at it than anyone else, in that case.

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, Jul 8, 17:50:47