Dazzling Spain on a song after Villa brace
Source: Agencies |
June 23, 2010, Wednesday
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SPAIN showed it is the World Cup's incurable romantics on Monday, confounding Honduras with a performance of breathtaking skill while exhibiting a tendency to over-elaborate that could prove its fatal flaw.
Despite the criticism that greeted its 0-1 defeat by Switzerland in the opening game, Spain was true to its philosophy in a 2-0 win at Ellis Park on Monday, passing this way and that, staying patient as it probed for weakness.
The difference this time was simply that David Villa rediscovered his devastating touch in front of goal - at least until he casually sent a penalty wide when a hat-trick was there to be completed.
His first goal came from an outrageous piece of skill, as he ghosted by defender Osman Chavez before curling a shot into the far corner.
The second had a touch more luck about it, with a deflected shot early in the second half flying past keeper Noel Valladares, but his all-round performance would have deserved the hat-trick he denied himself with a dreadful spot kick.
Victory, and a performance that brought gasps from the crowd at times, means the Spaniards should go into their final game against group leader Chile brimming with the sort of self-confidence that took them surging to victory at Euro 2008.
Yet for all the perfection of Xavi's geometric passing, Villa's brilliance and the authority shown by Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets in the holding midfield roles, there is a nagging doubt that better organized sides will punish their profligacy.
It was not just because of the penalty miss, or the fact that Fernando Torres failed to convert the stream of chances that came his way. It was also the sight of Xavi, Villa and winger Jesus Navas trying between them to walk the ball into the net in the second half when a more direct approach would surely have brought them many more goals against a rival they outclassed.
For now, Spain can be satisfied that it has momentum after doing something no other European team has done at this World Cup and beating a rival from Latin America.
Coach Vicente del Bosque understandably wasn't exactly purring.
"It hasn't been a great match. We had glorious opportunities and many opportunities so I think we should have won this by more goals," Del Bosque said. "I think we certainly paved the way to play against Chile ... (but) I'm not entirely satisfied," he said.
Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda, whose team has no points after two games, was realistic.
"The early goal tipped the balance of the game. There's not much to explain, we were playing a much superior team," said the Colombian.
Despite the criticism that greeted its 0-1 defeat by Switzerland in the opening game, Spain was true to its philosophy in a 2-0 win at Ellis Park on Monday, passing this way and that, staying patient as it probed for weakness.
The difference this time was simply that David Villa rediscovered his devastating touch in front of goal - at least until he casually sent a penalty wide when a hat-trick was there to be completed.
His first goal came from an outrageous piece of skill, as he ghosted by defender Osman Chavez before curling a shot into the far corner.
The second had a touch more luck about it, with a deflected shot early in the second half flying past keeper Noel Valladares, but his all-round performance would have deserved the hat-trick he denied himself with a dreadful spot kick.
Victory, and a performance that brought gasps from the crowd at times, means the Spaniards should go into their final game against group leader Chile brimming with the sort of self-confidence that took them surging to victory at Euro 2008.
Yet for all the perfection of Xavi's geometric passing, Villa's brilliance and the authority shown by Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets in the holding midfield roles, there is a nagging doubt that better organized sides will punish their profligacy.
It was not just because of the penalty miss, or the fact that Fernando Torres failed to convert the stream of chances that came his way. It was also the sight of Xavi, Villa and winger Jesus Navas trying between them to walk the ball into the net in the second half when a more direct approach would surely have brought them many more goals against a rival they outclassed.
For now, Spain can be satisfied that it has momentum after doing something no other European team has done at this World Cup and beating a rival from Latin America.
Coach Vicente del Bosque understandably wasn't exactly purring.
"It hasn't been a great match. We had glorious opportunities and many opportunities so I think we should have won this by more goals," Del Bosque said. "I think we certainly paved the way to play against Chile ... (but) I'm not entirely satisfied," he said.
Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda, whose team has no points after two games, was realistic.
"The early goal tipped the balance of the game. There's not much to explain, we were playing a much superior team," said the Colombian.
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