DUTCH TSUNAMI SINKS THE SPANISH ARMADA!
On losing 5-1 to Holland, the defending World cup champions Spain, suffered the
heaviest defeat ever incurred by a defending champion at any world cup final. It also equaled their heaviest defeat since 1964!
The Dutch "Tsunami's" sinking of the once invisible "Spanish Armada" was reminiscent of the tottering vestiges of a once mighty Empire, on it's last clutches clinging on to a once glorious legacy, now at the verge of being vanquished!
The Dutch "Tsunami's" sinking of the once invisible "Spanish Armada" was reminiscent of the tottering vestiges of a once mighty Empire, on it's last clutches clinging on to a once glorious legacy, now at the verge of being vanquished!
The two nations have
over the last several decades had a sort of "soccer cultural exchange" that is
credited with getting the Spanish game to where it currently is.
This would seem ironic because even though Spain, the incumbent, has at least one World title, courtesy of their win in South Africa, the Dutch still carry the tag as “the greatest soccer nation never to have won the World cup”!
This would seem ironic because even though Spain, the incumbent, has at least one World title, courtesy of their win in South Africa, the Dutch still carry the tag as “the greatest soccer nation never to have won the World cup”!
However, with or
without winning the World title, Holland’s achievements and contribution to
the game can never be overstated!
The Dutch have been to several finals, famously the ’74 and ‘78
finals where they narrowly lost to host nations West Germany and Argentina.
Johan Cruyff, Holland’s gifted Captain at both those finals coincidentally also captained F.C Barcelona throughout most of the 70’s.
Johan Cruyff, Holland’s gifted Captain at both those finals coincidentally also captained F.C Barcelona throughout most of the 70’s.
He is one of the greatest and most influential footballers
in history having learnt his craft at the lap of legendary dutch master, Rinus Michels, father of Dutch football and inventor of the “total football” system.
Cryuff went on to become that system’s greatest exponent during his time as Dutch captain and at Barcelona during his tenure as coach from 1988 to ’96.
During this stint, he crafted a side famously called the “dream team” that won 5 consecutive La Liga titles in the early ‘90’s.
Cryuff went on to become that system’s greatest exponent during his time as Dutch captain and at Barcelona during his tenure as coach from 1988 to ’96.
During this stint, he crafted a side famously called the “dream team” that won 5 consecutive La Liga titles in the early ‘90’s.
His blue-print and philosophy of how the game should be
played is the template upon which Barcelona’s tiki taka style and even the
modern Spanish game, one can argue, is built on.
Subsequent Dutch coaches including current Holland coach,
Louis Van Gaal and Frank Riijkaard continued Cruyff’s football legacy and the
Dutch way of playing on subsequent coaching stints at Barcelona.
It’s with the above historical insight that keen observers
deemed Spain’s triumphant 2010 World cup final match over Holland, where the
former dominated and outclassed the latter as “the student coming back to outdo
the teacher!”
Come Brazil 2014, these two sides got pitted in the same group,
with the replay of the last final on the cards.
The game's final score was actually quite decent in Spain’s favor
considering the number of chances that came Holland’s way throughout the game.
Has the proverbial “teacher” reclaimed his dignified position next to the board, chalk in hand and put his "student" back in his place?
Has the proverbial “teacher” reclaimed his dignified position next to the board, chalk in hand and put his "student" back in his place?
Many ardent followers of the game had long sensed this
carnage coming.
Del Bosque, a coach with an impeccable record in his own right, had become
complacent over the last several seasons ignoring an obvious need to rethink
his strategy and most importantly, refresh ranks.
Was the loss an indictment on Del Bosque’s methods especially his choice of going with an outright striker, read Diego Costa?
Should he have stuck to his “false striker” system and played with a host of attacking midfielders?
Was the loss an indictment on Del Bosque’s methods especially his choice of going with an outright striker, read Diego Costa?
Should he have stuck to his “false striker” system and played with a host of attacking midfielders?
In retrospect to this particular game, the Confederation Cup
final loss to Brazil and Spain’s recent form, both questions go begging.
Once down, the jaded Spaniards looked beaten and didn’t seem to have any fight in them, with seasoned veterans Xavi and Iniesta looking shell-shocked as the Dutch repeatedly curved them open. This is clearly a sign of a side past its peak, playing a once portent system that has now clearly been studied and an anti-dote formulated!
Del Bosque has also been guilty of ignoring obvious talent preferring to pick his squad from a particular pool, a trend that has come to haunt him.
He is paying the price for stubbornly replicating and sticking to Barcelona's system of play despite an obvious decline by the Catalan club over the past two seasons.
Once down, the jaded Spaniards looked beaten and didn’t seem to have any fight in them, with seasoned veterans Xavi and Iniesta looking shell-shocked as the Dutch repeatedly curved them open. This is clearly a sign of a side past its peak, playing a once portent system that has now clearly been studied and an anti-dote formulated!
Del Bosque has also been guilty of ignoring obvious talent preferring to pick his squad from a particular pool, a trend that has come to haunt him.
He is paying the price for stubbornly replicating and sticking to Barcelona's system of play despite an obvious decline by the Catalan club over the past two seasons.
The writing was ominously on the wall one night in May 2013 when Spain’s two biggest clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid (the spine of the current national
team) were both humiliatingly defeated by German giants Bayern Munich and
Borussia Dortmund who went on to eliminate the two former clubs at the
semi-finals stage of that seasons’ U.E.F.A Champions league. Barcelona’s loss
in particular sent shock-waves around the football world as eventual champions
Bayern Munich resoundingly defeated the once invincible Barca outfit along with their “tiki
taka” system, with an aggregate score of 7-0!
These two games were profoundly symbolic as to the direction and position of Spanish football in regard to the chasing pack.
These two games were profoundly symbolic as to the direction and position of Spanish football in regard to the chasing pack.
The “La Roja” were to follow as they lumbered their way to
the final of the Confederation cup in Brazil, the following July. They were
exposed at the final match where Brazil humbled Spain 3-0.
Spain's over reliance on the passing game, a total disregard for the defensive side of the game and a lack of pace in transition are clear indicators that the Spaniards have been overtaken by events!
Spain's over reliance on the passing game, a total disregard for the defensive side of the game and a lack of pace in transition are clear indicators that the Spaniards have been overtaken by events!
So with all the above facts, the result and how the Holland vs Spain game
panned out does not come as a surprise, it was long overdue!
(Please leave your comments and opinions as this is meant to be an interactive forum, your feedback is of ultimate importance! Thank you)
(Please leave your comments and opinions as this is meant to be an interactive forum, your feedback is of ultimate importance! Thank you)
i like your assesment of thespanish (tiki taka) system which proved effiecient but not effective.
ReplyDeletekeep up the Good analysis
Thank you Doc, that game's result cannot to be overstated! It was symbolic and can actually be viewed to imply that a change of guard is in play as Spain's dominance of the game over the last 8 years finally comes to an end!
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