The Spanish team seems to feel the burden of the responsability and the fear of playing against Germany, so they can not deploy their style of football and the Germans are on control... so far!
One last comment (not my own harvest, but a remark made by the best commentors, like Cruyff, Beckenbauer, etc.): for the first time ever the Spanish team has given up in this Euro Championship its usual "rage" style and is developing a more cool, fine touch, style. I.e., it has abandonned for once the old Spanish style and is playing more the Catalan-Barça style (which Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol). It is also related to the distribution discussed in previous post preferred by the coach: 5 middle-line guys that can create good footbol with a soft touch (like Xavi, Cesc and Iniesta).
Some people consider this a triumph of Catalunya/Barça upon Spain/RealMadrid and because of that some Catalans kind of support the Spanish team... not my case (just seeing a Spanish flag waived is too much for me to swallow).
While I wrote this the Spanish team kind of found it's place in the field.
Spain 1 Germany 0-- my German sailor friends are already drunk! But my American friend whose fiance supports Spain has a sloop on the Chesapeake--so I am getting closer to to gettting my sealegs back after being landlocked for years...hahahah
Harvester my friend, it was not your day but as you said it was a very Catalan influenced side. all that aside....
Good on you Spain. To win that trophy cannot be sneezed at and for the first time in my time of being involved with Spain and her people I saw a real Spanish TEAM.........
Now if Barca can pull their finger out and win the damn champions League next year........
I do confess I love Spain, nah bugger that, I love Iberia cos that includes Portugal, Catalunya, El Pais Vasco, Galicia and the Balearics.
So today I am happy.
Doubly so cos I went sailing with whales.......I think they were humpbacks....I'll do a weekend report.
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Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we are moving....we must sail, sometimes with the wind, sometimes against it, but sail we must, and not drift nor lie at anchor.- Oliver Wendell Holmes
My hotel here in Germany is a business hotel and is usually dead on the weekend, so dead that sometimes I am the only guest in the restaurant/bar. Last night, about an hour before the game, 5 tour buses loaded with 250 Spanish tourists descended on the hotel. I think I was the only German in the packed bar... Too bad the Germans didn't play any better, the Spanish certainly outclassed the Germanen and deserved to win.
My hotel here in Germany is a business hotel and is usually dead on the weekend, so dead that sometimes I am the only guest in the restaurant/bar. Last night, about an hour before the game, 5 tour buses loaded with 250 Spanish tourists descended on the hotel. I think I was the only German in the packed bar... Too bad the Germans didn't play any better, the Spanish certainly outclassed the Germanen and deserved to win.
Zanshin,
I reckon (based purely on performance during the Cup) that Germany did well to even be there yesterday. In the wash up of the tournament Spain were in fact the best team overall. The Netherlands started well but failed coming onto the straight. Other than the semi against Italy, Spain never really looked like losing any of their games.
Anway, that's it for another two years until the WC comes round again. I for one will be interested to see how Spain competes in that competition.
My thanks to you for creating the thread. It's been fun.
Now.
Anyone for Cricket ?
Just kiddin.
Cheers
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Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we are moving....we must sail, sometimes with the wind, sometimes against it, but sail we must, and not drift nor lie at anchor.- Oliver Wendell Holmes
Wombat - I was in the BVI during the Cricket World Cup last year. Unfortunately, even though I had tickets, I couldn't sail since my rudder had decided to go separate ways and was floating NNW with the intent of joining the Gulf Stream I would like to watch a good 20-20 match and see someone (ANYONE) beat the Ozzies.
p.s. Looks like I am going to Canberra in August. Is it as bad there as everyone tells me?
I must admitt it. The "Spanish" team was the best in this Eurocup. (I'm already worried about the World Cup).
And UEFA has appointed Xavi Hernandez as the best player in the Cup. I agree with that. He was the brains of the "Spanish" team (just like he usually is the brains of Barça).
I put quotation marks for the "Spanish" team because at several moments during the Cup, including the Final, half of the guys in the field playing for Spain would rather play for a national Catalan team, if the Spaniards didn't ban it. (Jezzzz I'm really sorry, but I can't help it )
Cam: one of these days I'll open the thread with a post about the Catalan issues... Despite Wombat's warnings it'll be a short one, I promise!
TDW: Congratulations ....on the sailling with whales! (What else? )
Zan, Cam, Wombat, and all the others. It was fun sharing my ranting and whinning with you, guys.
Wombat - I was in the BVI during the Cricket World Cup last year. Unfortunately, even though I had tickets, I couldn't sail since my rudder had decided to go separate ways and was floating NNW with the intent of joining the Gulf Stream I would like to watch a good 20-20 match and see someone (ANYONE) beat the Ozzies.
p.s. Looks like I am going to Canberra in August. Is it as bad there as everyone tells me?
20-20 doesn't do it for me. To be honest cricket is not my thing but I used to enjoy going down to the local ground on a summers afternoon with a book and a ball for the dog to chase while the flannelled fools did there stuff. Certainly a most relaxing spectator sport and as good as it gets other than slipping along with the helm tied.......ah dear old Ratty, he nailed it thats for sure.
Now look, I don't get overly aggro about slights on my homeland, indeed I enjoy seeing the buggers lose every now and then myself BUT its Aussies. Pronounced Ozzies I agree but not spelt.
Ref your PS - Yes it is.
Or at least was , I havn't been to Canberra for some years but it used to be as exciting as reading one of Sways posts. Half way decent art gallery and a couple of reasonable museums but that's about it.
Let me know your food likes and I'll hunt up some decent restaurants if you wish.
Snow season pretty much done and dusted by August I would think but for a side trip the mountains up round Thredbo can be lovely at that time of year. I'm not a skier but I do love the mountains when the snow is melting and the spring flowers are blooming. Easy day trip from Canberra.
During the time we were boatless, Ms W and I enjoyed driving down to Canberra on a Saturday morning, visit the gallery, lunch then drive out to the coast near Bateman's Bay for dinner and the night, before driving back to Sydney on Sunday afternoon. Quite pleasant in an unexciting kind of way.
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Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we are moving....we must sail, sometimes with the wind, sometimes against it, but sail we must, and not drift nor lie at anchor.- Oliver Wendell Holmes
Germany was in mourning yesterday... I hear that the Germans aren't bad at curling, so maybe that is the game to give the country back a bit of national pride. It's eitehr that or the northern German game of "Boßel" (Bossel) (see Klootschiessen
Lehman was quoted complaining about favoritism to Spain from the refs. Harden up man...you got beat fair and square...and it is hard to blame your flubs...including the winning goal which you were too slow to get to on the refs. Time to retire Jens. Time for a new generation of keepers for Germany.
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Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice....Thomas Paine
I would like to watch a good 20-20 match and see someone (ANYONE) beat the Ozzies.
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