Monday, 30th June 2008
The best team wins
Last Saturday on the Malpensa airport express train I came across a group of young men and women who had been let down by one of the low-cost airlines and lost their flight to Madrid. Among them was a sweet Spanish nurse, who works in Milan, and who was talking to a group of Italian guys. After the introductory pep talk, this girl said, (in Italian) “It’s the first time, since 1984, that Spain is in the final of an important football tournament. I have to be in my country, because it is a rare occasion and I want to live it.”
It was with that thought in my mind as I followed the final of the European Championships. I believe that over all, the best team won this tournament. Spain have finally destroyed the myth of being under achievers.
The feeling I got was that the lack of success so far, the perception that they were the underdogs, gave Spain the most support from non-Spaniards yesterday. A small example. I watched the match with friends. There were two Maltese (who support Italy), a Dutch, a Polish and two Maltese kids (who support Holland). Everyone wanted Spain to win.
The match was generally one sided. Lehman and the goal posts kept the Germans in the match, until Torres scored the decisive goal, near the end of the half time. The Germans’ reaction time was limited to a few minutes in the second half. The Spanish victory was a confirmation that at times the best teams do win.
It might sound pathetic, but I honestly agreed with the Italian commentator who said: ‘so at the end Italy got eliminated, by not losing, to the winning side’.
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Comments
Yes I did and was still unimpressed in that win against unimpressive Germany . And please do realise that the only player worth noting out of those four is Del Piero but then he is not a full out attacker is he?
From the four you mentioned only two are 100% attackers but never International players.
While the spoilt baby Totti has never appreciated the honour of playing for his country.
Lippi plan was the usual, tight defence and counter attack. Nothing impressive.
Do you think that now Lippi would win the World Cuo again?
Just for the record before you come out blazing with your guns, I am not an England supporter as I do not support any National team. Malta yes but others no!
I am just a football lover with my 45 years of watching football.
Did u watch the 2006 World Cup semi-final between Italy and Germany? In extra time Italy had 4 attackers ( Iaquinta, Gilardino, Totti and Del Piero) and Italy hit the goalposts twice and scored two goals.....is that fear of losing?
I am relieved as I was very unimpressed with the last winners of the UEFA 2004 (Greece) and the Winners of the Fifa World Cup 2006 (Italy) as both teams had their game plan based on the fear of not losing. Spain showed them the way on how to win with attacking football and very entertaining.
Spain beat Italy on penalties though just as Italy did against France. So that settles what the Italian commentators said.
The Spanish win is very important as one can see that though they lost Villa they still kept that strong mentality to win.
I was never impressed by the Germans. For me the best German period of football was that of the 1966 to 1974 cycle. Since then they were far from entertaining except showing sheer grim mentality to win in a lack lustre way. They have remained since and if they don't change they would be in real trouble. Ballack is their best player but not the greatest.
The biggest disappointment were the World Champions Italy. Isn't it strange to be World Champions but not European Champions? And were was Ronaldo?
The best team won...Thats why Italy had to leave the tournament....better late then never right :D?
The referee's performance wasn't all that bright. Now I'm an Italian fan don't get me wrong! Luckily he didn't have much influence on the final result :)
After the match, pitying Spain for their not so envied under-achievers nickname, I was quite happy for their win. In fact, I had the same thought of well yes, Spain beat everyone in their way except Italy.
But as you said, "it might sound pathetic, but I honestly agreed with the Italian commentator who said: ‘so at the end Italy got eliminated, by not losing, to the winning side’". Jes, your comment and especially that of the italian commentator sounds pathetic and shows how italian supporters (I'm one of them too) face what they call the sports of football.
Italian commentators were even boasting that the referee for the final was Italian, when during the season, the same commentators spend the 7 final hours of sunday massacrating them on TV with their famous moviolas.
With the same reasoning, USA and France can say that in 2006, they held the World Champions. Spain deserved to win this tournament because surprisingly they had played the best football and showed a good teamwork and considering the players' age, they have a bright future ahead.
What a POOR performance by the Germans.Ballack was out of it. Spain were worthy winners throughout.
What a FANTASTIC Opening Ceremony to the finals.Well Done UEFA / Austria / Switzerland.
Referee did call a few dodgy calls(yellow cards given to the wrong player), but on the whole the officials were up to it,in control and decisive.
What really amazed me was how PLATINI (arrogant) did not invite The Royal Spanish Couple to present the Cup...he just walked off to centre stage and did the presentation on his own ,he even gave out all the medals.Looks like he forgot that he is no longer a player who is suppose to steal the lime light.Pity