From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer
Werner Pichler wrote:
Yama <yama212@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
In my youth, Spain was chronical underachiever, a team commentators bemoaned in pitiful tones how it was not living up to its potential
again. Of course I watched through tiki-taka era, when it became a dominant force.
But what was the turnaround? What I remember from Spain's play in tournaments prior to success years, their tactics seemed
superficially similar to tiki-taka: short pass play and keeping the
ball. Did Aragones bring something truly new to the system, or did
Spanish team become materially stronger?
ItrCOs a good question. I remember how the addition of
midfield steel in the form of Marcos Senna was seen as
one of the crucial reasons for their 2008 breakthrough.
Ciao,
Werner
The way I remember it, they didn't dominate posession and press high
like in the tiki-taka era and as they do now. In 2010 they had Xavi and
Puyol at least, who were personally very strong and the winner type.
Now the whole team seems to be stronger than even then, better oiled,
more goal-oriented and, not to forget a small detail, they seem to have
finally learned how to score enough of the many chances they create.
Also, let's remember that in 2002 they were the first favorites, ahead
of Brazil or on about the same level, and they were robbed at daylight.
In 94 too, there was the Tasotti incident, they were more or less equal
to Italy who then went on to lose a shootout against Brazil in the
final.
IMO they're a dominant team since at least 94. Of course, not like they
are now, at this moment they're undoubtedly a level above anybody else.
And there's also the video ref, that IMO is very well suited for their offensive, controlling style of play. They had their share of ref
decisions against them this time too, but fewer than before.
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