Spain Presses and Passes through Germany

Neutrals and football romantics have got their wish come true. The World Cup final will be played between two teams that possess their own strong football identities, have always believed in their own style, but have never won the World Cup before.

First Netherlands came through the challenge of Uruguay and last night Spain won Germany 1-0, in a game that had all the ingredients to become one of the all time classics, but  Germany failed the expectations and wasn’t able to match Spain’s midfield dominance. Schweinsteiger, Khedira, and Ozil were simply outplayed by Xavi, Iniesta, and Alonso. And that left Germany to rely on their counter-attacks, which were never coming, because such was the composure in the Spanish midfield. Spain has also now won all their second round games with a smallest margin of 1-0. But make no mistake, it is not catenaccio they are playing. Quite the opposite – they are really starting to make art of not conceding. (More about this later)

“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football. I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ’A pretty move, for the love of God.’ And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”