World Soccer : For the Good of the Game

Spain's Golden Generation

noreply@blogger.com (ivansotomayormunoz) — Fri, 9 Jul 2010 11:08:00 -0700

Images by El Universo

With the world's best generation of players, Spain managed to advance to the final after defeating the all powerful Germany with the minimal difference of 1 - 0 on Wednesday. F.C. Barcelona's central defender Carles Puyol entered German's defense after a free kick executed by fellow teammate Xavi Hernandez which seemed impossible for Germany's Manuel Neuer in the 73 minute. Now, the Netherlands will face Spain in the final that will change the history for both teams, given that these two countries have never won the World Cup. This will be the eight time that European teams are the dominant hegemony over any continent, this will be the first time outside of Europe that an European team will win the prestigious prize in the sports world. 'La Furia Roja', nickname known for Spain, played collectively their best game exhibited given for the most part in the match the game that audiences expected since the opener game against Switzerland.

While Germany was more planned into their fast counterattacks, known much throughout this tournament even though when the ball landed on the Germans, it took too much time to generate danger in the Spanish area. With this result, the scoreboard reflected much of the superiority that Spain has gained over the last two years with the European Championship held in Austria/Switzerland in 2008. The Germans, throughout the whole match, were not eager to hold the ball but to watch the direction to where it was headed, but they gained much fear from the Spaniards, which gave them several opportunities to score. You can tell that Germany was in the worst moment in this tournament by far. After scoring eight goals in the past two matches, the starting lineup had stirrups given that they showed a defensive scheme, awaiting their rival to make mistakes.

With this result, Germany's effective and tactical game was left behind with victories over Argentina and England just seemed as a blur.

The Netherlands Advance To The Final

noreply@blogger.com (ivansotomayormunoz) — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 22:37:00 -0700

Images by El Universo

The Netherlands advanced to the final game after defeating Uruguay with a tight score of 3 - 2 on Tuesday with deadly thrusts of each player and Uruguay's strong resistance, who fought until the end with much life and soul to at least have a hope in the final on Saturday at the Green Point Stadium in Durban. It was too much for the prize reached by the Netherlands after 32 years without a presence in the final, who the Dutch wins matches justly and without any spying to their rivals, the Dutch managed to study the rival very carefully prior to each match. The match was much equal with the rivals going at it with their respective players into finding the goal. The goals made by Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder were the goal that sentenced the game, with the lapse of three minutes from each into scoring their respective goals. The was more closed because for both rivals their defense and their midfield was very solid making impossible for both rivals' rivals impossible to score.

The Netherlands and Uruguay's first goals were magnificent, both were shot from off the area and with much potency and skill, the ball managed to enter the net as if fire were to be touched by the goalkeepers from both teams. Giovani Van Bronckhorst scored the first goal ahead of Uruguay, while Diego Forlan scored the equalizer just minutes before halftime. Van Bronckhorst shot from off the area with no marking and as he measured wityh a tall angle to beat Uruguay's Fernando Muslera. Forlan did almost the same thing, but this time he opened a huge hole in the Dutch defense making it impossible for Stekelenburg to save the ball from going into the net. In both cases as we analyzed the Jabulani ball before the tournament started, it is an unstable ball capable of going into different directions even when it is fooling the accurate measurement of the goalkeepers.

Just when all of Uruguay's national team's lines, the played with much efficacy and audacity of controlling the ball, that was the main objective, the South American team was surprised by the two lethal shots, one from Inter's Wesley Sneijder and a fantastic header from Arjen Robben. There were certain doubts whether or not the second goal was in offside position given that with Sneijder's position, the cameras insinuated that Robin Van Persie touched the ball, which he was in offside position. This sentence by the Dutch hit Uruguay's emotionally and psychologically capable of raising themselves up and tried to recuperate to win the match, but they gave time for the Netherlands to react much faster. Without Forlan, he was substituted due to fatigue, Uruguay went much into the attack more than the defense, that was when the second ball was scored for the "celeste" team in the 92 minute with Maxi Pereira inspired that gave the match an epic proportion, but as time was running out you can see Uruguay's desperation to equalize the scoreboard. Uruguay's bet for goal was impossible given that Luis Suarez was suspended due to a red card for the handball that he prevented from Ghana's national team to score and seal the victory.

The South American team was shown with two forwards up from with Cavani and Forlan, and the defense made up from three midfielders that was made to create the offensive game that they have been doing this tournament. Meanwhile, with this starting lineup it was impossible to make enough goals that could have lead Uruguay in the final. The Netherlands advances to the final for the first time in 32 years.

David Villa Shut Paraguay's Dream

noreply@blogger.com (ivansotomayormunoz) — Sun, 4 Jul 2010 23:42:00 -0700

Images by El Universo

Spain qualified Saturday to the semifinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg thanks to a miraculous goal from F.C. Barcelona's new striker David Villa just seven minutes before the match ended. Throughout the whole match, Andres Iniesta armed an offensive attack, passed to teammate Pedro, who came fro the right hand side of the field, the ball went on to Villa, who shot with much effectiveness to the net that gave the victory over Paraguay in the 83 minute. With this result, The European champion Spain advances to the semifinals, for the first time since 1950. David Villa has surely become the savior for the Spaniards, which gave them victories over Honduras and Chile, winning in the round of 16 against Portugal and now winning over Paraguay which made a historical pass to the semifinals. Villa now has 5 goals and is competing with other strikers like Miroslav Klose and Wesley Sneijder.

Spain will now face the all powerful Germany in the semifinals, an attractive match that has a history of both, such as the European Championship final in Austria/Switzerland 2008 where Fernando Torres scored the only goal that gave the Spaniards victory and the title as European Champions. Paraguay should have scored in both occassions, but an annulled goal from Nelson Haedo Valdez and a missed penalty shot from Oscar Cardozo could have Paraguay in the best four. Spain could have scored more goals, but David Villa's goal seemed enough after a saved penalty shot executed from Xabi Alonso, but Paraguay's Justo Villar saved the team from a suffered defeat. Paraguay controlled most of the first half, by having four players in the midfield trying to create many opportunities for the strikers to score and to take the advantage to counterattack and surprise the rival. The Spaniards seemed impossible to stop the solid defensive barrier leaded by Paraguay's Paulo Da Silva, but in the second half, Paraguay's effort payed really hard after holding on through the match came the goal that left the team out of the tournament.

With this result, Paraguay leaves the tournament with their heads held up high for having a magnificent participation in this 2010 FIFA World Cup and will expect more in 2014 in Brazil. While the Spaniards, this leaves the European champions with much to dream of and a place to be in the final in Johannesburg.