WC 2010 Part 2: Spain vs Holland

First topic message reminder :

Could go either way for me, a cracker or a bore.

Robben is quality.

Love seeing him run with the ball, taking people on.

3-1 Holland - De Vrij

And there's the weakness v set-pieces!

Great stuff.

Destroying them!

Glad the goal stood.
Goalies get to much given for them in those instances.

RVP kicked the crap out of Pedro and nearly started a fight

#ForwardsTackle

What a game this is. Terrific stuff from Holland.

Spain lost the opener 4 years ago. Gonna have to run the table again

The difficult Chile game now becomes crucial for Spain.

They were doing fine until that pivotal RVP header; cracked under the pressure.

This is a cracking game.

Very early, but the rest will have to do well to beat this.

Special players are capable of special things - fantastic delivery by Sneijder.
This is how Holland should have played in the 2010 final. That Spanish team was possibly a little closer to "peak", but they would have had a better chance than kicking Spain to smithereens

With Robben and RVP, no one will fancy facing them.

I knew I should have backed Holland again 

4-1 - RVP - Casillas clanger

You have got to be kidding!

Didn't everyone apart from me say the Dutch were rubbish prior to the World Cup?

Casillas has been embarrasing for two years now. Seems like Spanish people refuse to drop him... maybe it's just too painful to admit that Mourinho was right about him?

The problem for Spain is they will probably have to play Brazil in the next round, and that's if they get past Chile.

This is what makes world cups for me.

Nobody would have expected this scoreline.

Could well be 6.

Good man Ron, had him in your pocket.

Wouldn't bank on Spain getting past Chile if they have another half like this.

kingraf wrote:Casillas has been embarrasing for two years now. Seems like Spanish people refuse to drop him... maybe it's just too painful to admit that Mourinho was right about him?

Diego Lopez and David de Gea are both superior goalkeepers, completely agree with you. Once upon a time he was the best keeper in the world but now that's not the case.

5-1 - Robben

Oh my!

I hope you are watching Lambert.

Robben our new signing 

If he gets Man Utd playing like this!!

Robben just burnt Ramos. I mean the gas.

Duty281 wrote:This game just proved how poor Spain are defensively. In the air, against pace, through the middle, just desperately poor and sub-standard. Most teams, including England, will relish playing them.

I wrote that last year - I quite agree with myself!

What I like to hear. Ron Vlaar being rock solid.

Villa boy has had a good game.

Could this goal difference come back to bite Spain? Especially if they draw with Chile.

Duty281 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:This game just proved how poor Spain are defensively. In the air, against pace, through the middle, just desperately poor and sub-standard. Most teams, including England, will relish playing them.

I wrote that last year - I quite agree with myself!

Duty, since 2010 they from the stats have had the most nil goals let in.  

In work people thought I was mad to pick Netherlands over Spain.

How good is it watching Spain get thrashed!

Casillas has been awful once more, Mourinho right about dropping him then...

Spain just got pimp slapped, simple as.

Torres                          

skyeman wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:This game just proved how poor Spain are defensively. In the air, against pace, through the middle, just desperately poor and sub-standard. Most teams, including England, will relish playing them.

I wrote that last year - I quite agree with myself!

Duty, since 2010 they from the stats have had the most nil goals let in.  

Exactly why they strive to monopolise possession - they have a weak defence, and so their midfield limit the chances of the opposition incredibly well.

Except today, where Spain have fallen apart.

This should be 8

Torres....

This World Cup is already more exciting and entertaining than the last one!

Certainly was not boring.

Brilliant Dutch.

Hero wrote:Didn't everyone apart from me say the Dutch were rubbish prior to the World Cup?

One swallow doesn't make a summer though Hero.

Great start mind.

Dave. wrote:This World Cup is already more exciting and entertaining than the last one!

We killed them with that there altitude.

I can see Spain handing an a55 whooping to Australia, & Chile.

Get their heads together and bounce back.

kingraf wrote:

Dave. wrote:This World Cup is already more exciting and entertaining than the last one!

We killed them with that there altitude.

Rafa, have you ever owned a vuvuzela?

One of those days.

De Gea for Casillas must be coming. Looks a shadow of his former self

FreekShow wrote:

kingraf wrote:

Dave. wrote:This World Cup is already more exciting and entertaining than the last one!

We killed them with that there altitude.

Rafa, have you ever owned a vuvuzela?

No. I can blow one though.

GSC wrote:One of those days.

De Gea for Casillas must be coming. Looks a shadow of his former self

Yeah, Casillas has looked shockingly bad for a while now.

BBC website had Sneijder as Schneider for about half an hour before the game. Even in writing he's not safe from that weird Goldmember-esque pronunciation people seem to like so much.

GSC wrote:Looks a shadow of his former self

Seems to be a lot of it going around so far. Pretty much every team seems to have a few big question marks, could make for an interesting tournament.

The only positive for Spain is that its the first game. Quality and ability to dig themselves out.

Scoreline flatters the Dutch after padding their tally in the last few minutes. Full value for a win. Do wonder if they've peaked too soon mind...

Maybe, but you do have to question the wisdom of starting a keeper benched by Mourinho and Ancelotti. Del Bosque might have the leverage to upset the apple cart now.