Spain v Poland

cm2000

Is anyone watching this, 15 minutes in Spain are two up through Villa and Silva and they look sensational, with Iniesta pulling the strings. Definitely confirms my bet for the WC. Lots of links on www.rojadirecta.com , I suggest people watch!

anplaya

poland are brutal,seems like a handy training game for the spanish

eagle eye

Second goal was awesome.

curry-muff

The stream im watching is fox soccer, jesus the commentary would drive me mad, gona have to mute it :pac:

cm2000

curry-muff wrote: »

The stream im watching is fox soccer, jesus the commentary would drive me mad, gona have to mute it :pac:

is it english? do you know if Iniesta went off injured or was it to rest him?

445279.ie

I'm watching in what I can only assume is Polish

cm2000

fourth goal awesome as well, the way they move the ball...... poetry

445279.ie

Spanish are a different class

Think I'll head to the bookies tomorrow and put a few quid on them

cm2000

fifth goal just awesome, can see their odds being slashed after this display!

445279.ie

Magnificent 5th goal, fantastic play in the build-up :eek:

anplaya

awesome just awesome,6-0 looks like poland were asleep for that

missingtime

First Goal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ropfGTLSvY

Second Goal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5QbQYJnRYA

Third Goal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWN5ItoXLgA

Fourth Goal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE3i-U7k6fI

Fifth Goal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_Kr4wehvRM

Sixth Goal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkw4oPhx_WY

FreeOSCAR

Iniesta went off injured, really hope hes not out for the WC... My fav player.

cm2000

That's it folks, 6-0 and the message is basically, WC2010 beware, the second and fifth goals sum it all up

Dont be at yourself

Spain's problem isn't taking part the likes of Poland in meaningless friendlies. It'll be interesting to see how their fare against Brazil/Portugal/Ivory Coast in the last 16 game.

HalloweenJack

Iniesta was amazing in the first twenty minutes. I was wondering how his fitness would be but he was top notch. His passing was incredible. Commentators in Spain said he just took a knock on his right thigh.

Fabregas and Torres did really well once they came on. At first, Torres looked a bit out of shape, no surprise there, but he settled in to game and played pretty well.

Alonso had a good game too.

dreamers75

HalloweenJack wrote: »

Iniesta was amazing in the first twenty minutes. I was wondering how his fitness would be but he was top notch. His passing was incredible. Commentators in Spain said he just took a knock on his right thigh.

Fabregas and Torres did really well once they came on. At first, Torres looked a bit out of shape, no surprise there, but he settled in to game and played pretty well.

Alonso had a good game too.

Lol its a freaking dream team

HalloweenJack

That's not even mentioning Xavi, Villa, Puyol, Pique and the three keepers they have.

Frisbee

That second goal was sex

Mister men

Unstoppable. Can't see past themselves,Italy or Brazil for the big win.

keano_afc

Wow. Poland were fairly brutal but some of that interplay around the box is beautiful.

bonerm

Sorry, haven't seen Spain play in a while. Just wondering who will be taking Sennas place/role in the starting XI for the World Cup?

Ush1

bonerm wrote: »

Sorry, haven't seen Spain play in a while. Just wondering who will be taking Sennas place/role in the starting XI for the World Cup?

Alonso most likely.

gimmick

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

Spain's problem isn't taking part the likes of Poland in meaningless friendlies. It'll be interesting to see how their fare against Brazil/Portugal/Ivory Coast in the last 16 game.

I would imagine the same way which they took Germany and Russia apart in 2008. 1-0 was a very flattering scoreline in the final, while Russia were soundly thumped twice. The only team to cause them any problems then was Italy, but even at that, Italy started the game in classic Italian defeinsivenmess and looked like they were after penalties from the opening minute.

flahavaj

I can't help but think that Spain can't possibly live up to all this hype.

gimmick

Pedro is a machine. Hope he gets a chance at the finals. He will score if played. What a 12 months he has had.

pickarooney

The game deserves a World Cup won by a team playing this way. The second goal was beautiful and I still can't make out whether Torres actually adjusted his foot to strike the fifth one or if it was played right onto his toe as he strode into the box.

steelcityblues

Think they will probably face Ivory Coast in last 16 - win that and then meet Italy in the quarters, where they will exit!

Would not mind being proven wrong though!

Ush1

gimmick wrote: »

I would imagine the same way which they took Germany and Russia apart in 2008. 1-0 was a very flattering scoreline in the final, while Russia were soundly thumped twice. The only team to cause them any problems then was Italy, but even at that, Italy started the game in classic Italian defeinsivenmess and looked like they were after penalties from the opening minute.

Doubt they will take Brazil apart. I think Brazil will really enjoy playing them actually as Spain are so attacking.

flahavaj

pickarooney wrote: »

The game deserves a World Cup won by a team playing this way.

And yet rarely are.

gimmick

I get the sense that people do not want Spain to win because they play such nice football?

More people seem to be talking of "how they will be found out" rather than how they might actually take the games to people and not allow themselves to be "found out".

dreamers75

gimmick wrote: »

I get the sense that people do not want Spain to win because they play such nice football?

More people seem to be talking of "how they will be found out" rather than how they might actually take the games to people and not allow themselves to be "found out".

Its the Dunphy Mentality.

_blank_

dreamers75 wrote: »

Its the Dunphy Mentality.

Hardly, seeing as Dunphy loves the Spanish game and is an expert on it.

PHB

For me, this World Cup is going to be the Iniesta World Cup. Messi and Ronaldo are cursed by their teams being flawed, but Spain's team is solid all over, and Iniesta is a big game player to the extreme. Really expect him to light up the world cup.

gimmick

Yes, Dunphy is the oracle when it comes to the Spanish game.

Ush1

I don't think Spain will be "found out" as they are a great side. I don't think they will win the World Cup though.

pickarooney

They're going to get '74ed.

bonerm

Des wrote: »

Dunphy loves the Spanish game and is an expert on it.

This is true. I heard he watches both El Clasico games every season.

_Bella_

Thank God I put them as the winners in the world cup predictions.

flahavaj

gimmick wrote: »

I get the sense that people do not want Spain to win because they play such nice football?

More people seem to be talking of "how they will be found out" rather than how they might actually take the games to people and not allow themselves to be "found out".

There is certainly merit in the argument that the team thats plays the most attractive football isn't often the one that actually goes on to win the tournament though.

How many times has it happened that the team that plays the "best" football goes onto win it? Apart from 1970, not that often. It doesn't mean people want it to happen per se. I do think Spain aren't that good that its not worth making the argument against them.

pickarooney

flahavaj wrote: »

There is certainly merit in the argument that the team thats plays the most attractive football isn't often the one that actually goes on to win the tournament though.

How many times has it happened that the team that plays the "best" football goes onto win it? Apart from 1970, not that often. It doesn't mean people want it to happen per se. I do think Spain aren't that good that its not worth making the argument against them.

I'm struggling to remember anyone playing nice football in 2002 but Brazil were maybe the best of a lousy bunch.

Warper

Aside from obvious reasons (some of the same players), this Spain team reminds me of Barcelona in the way they play. They are an extremely talented bunch who will be very hard to beat. They have the best midfield in the tournament especially if they can avoid any niggly little injuries. I think there are a couple of teams capable of beating them mainly the dogged type of teams like Italy, Germany and Brazil. Plus they have to overcome the immense pressure of being the favourites for the competition and of course their woeful history in the tournament.

UnitedIrishman

Similarities between Barca, Real + few others and Spain - with Ajax and Feyenoord sides of 70's + few others - and you've a superb national side playing effortless and classy football.

Can't see much stopping them bar bad luck. They're just that good.

HalloweenJack

Latest on Iniesta's knock. It's very vague.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8729849.stm

greendom

This wonderful form and hyping up of Spanish chances reminds me of Argentina in the last WC. During the group stages they were playing so well that it seemed that everyone thought they were going to walk it to the finals.

Then they struggled past Mexico in the last 16 before being knocked out by Germany in the QFs.

Bearing in mind countless previous let-downs by Spain in the WC I wouldn't be surprised if they flatter to deceive again.

HalloweenJack

I can't remember if they were favourites for 2008 but they lived up to the hype generated after their group stage. The one tricky game they had was against Italy and they still kept their nerve in the shootout then. They trounced Russia again and were comfortably better than Germany in the final.

This team can live up to the hype and they can win.

greendom

HalloweenJack wrote: »

I can't remember if they were favourites for 2008 but they lived up to the hype generated after their group stage. The one tricky game they had was against Italy and they still kept their nerve in the shootout then. They trounced Russia again and were comfortably better than Germany in the final.

This team can live up to the hype and they can win.

It's happened so many times before, though, that the best footballing team hasn't lived up to expectation. I'd like Spain to do it, playing amazing football,but I wouildnt' put any money on it. For an even more recent example, look at Inter dumping out Barca in this year's Champions League tournament.

redout

greendom wrote: »

It's happened so many times before, though, that the best footballing team hasn't lived up to expectation. I'd like Spain to do it, playing amazing football,but I wouildnt' put any money on it. For an even more recent example, look at Inter dumping out Barca in this year's Champions League tournament.

But just look previous to that when Barca won every single competition they entered by playing the beautiful football. La liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, Uefa Champions League, Uefa Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup. That is probably the most ridiculous example there ever will be. It most certainly can be done but more often than not it does not happen.

DazMarz

For the sake of "beautiful football", it would be great for Spain to win it, IMO.

But then, as I've been saying for ages:

Heart says: "England"
Head says: "Brazil"

And I'm gonna stick by that...