Spain will WIN the next World Cup in Brazil

I know they just got thrashed 3-0 in Brazil, by Brazil, ending an amazing run of god knows how games played without losing. However, this is NOT the end of Spain.

Some may compare to how France were on top of the world a few years back, winning both World Cup and Euro's in subsequent fashion. They had the cream of the crop - Makelele, Desailly, Anelka, Henry, Lizarazu and Zidane, who in my opinion, was the greatest footballer of our generation, better than Ronaldo and Messi, comparable to Maradona and Pele.

But Spain is not France. They will endure, and for the very simple reasons that i have listed down below. I have no doubt you will agree with me.

Why Spain will win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil:

1. Brazil were clearly MORE 'up' for it in the Confed Cup final. They were clearly more motivated to win it, and you can understand why. Brazil needed to send a message out, not to everyone else, but to themselves, that they CAN beat the best teams. Will Brazil be as up for it next year? Yes, you can count on it. The question though, is will Spain be more motivated to win the World Cup 2014 as compared to the Confed Cup? Seems obvious. So motiviation wise, both teams will be equals.
2. As clichéd as it sounds, the weather had a serious effect on the Spainards, and also the Italians. This is not an excuse, simply a fact. But Spain would have learnt from this. The experience of playing in this Confed Cup serves as a preperatory exercise not only for the Brazillians, but also for the Spanish. The Spanish team would now a better idea of what to expect, and be better prepared.
   Some might say that the weather should not have an effect, these are professional players that should rise above petty excuses, and also point to the fact that Brazil have won plenty outside the South American heat. But that is to be expected, when you consider that at least 60%-70% of the Brazillian players over the years have played their club football in Europe and have adapted to the colder weather.
3. Spain are still U-20 and U-21 champions. That itself is a scary thought for. The old guard of Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Torres will be eventually phased out. 2 of the top European footballers of last season - Juan Mata and Javi Martinez - are bench warmers for Spain. Other wonderfully talented footballers like Santi Cazorla and Daniel Cavarjal have yet to be integrated into the team. The young guns who are making headlines like Isco and Thiago Alcantra will definitely be in the next World Cup squad. In short, the Spain production line is still rolling out world class footballers in every department. 
4. Tiki-Taka is not dead. Contrary to the recent evidence of this Confed Cup final, and also of Bayern outmusclining Barca in the Champions League final, let me say it again, Tiki-Taka football is not dead.
   Teams all over the world are STILL trying to emulate the Tiki-Taka style. A full strength team playing Tiki-Taka will overwhelm a full strength team playing aggresive, counter-attacking football. 

Will we see similiar celebrations come the next World Cup?

Do you still disagree? 

Yes, Henry misses England

There were several clues that this was not an ordinary football interview. Sitting opposite Thierry Henry was one of them — but the most obvious was the instruction not to mention football.

Henry flew into London after Barcelona’s Champions League victory away to VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday to promote a collection of clothes by Tommy Hilfiger, profits from which are going to One 4 All, the anti-racist foundation backed by the French player. Fortunately, Henry likes talking about football, which was just as well — attempts to weave soccer into questions about fashion became tiring.

Last weekend, Henry scored his first hattrick for Barcelona (away to Levante) since leaving Arsenal. A hattrick is a sort of football fashion statement, isn’t it, a way of telling a new set of supporters that you have arrived? “They wanted me to score,” he said. “I f you give 100% , they recognise that, but scoring three goals, as you say, it is a statement.”

The Thierry Henry Capsule Collection was influenced by the player’s “grace and charisma”.

Presumably Hilfiger could have chosen any number of footballers, but Henry is a star, a fact borne out by the jostling fans who stood outside the Hilfiger store in Regent Street and cheered as he stood in the window and grinned at them.

“It’s always the thing I am fighting against; stars, heroes, icons,” he said. “What is a star? At night I see them in the skies, but if you kick a ball, I don’t know if you can call that a star. I think if you look in the dictionary they won’t put ‘football player who plays for Arsenal’ or whatever. Players never call themselves stars; people give you names.”

There is a theory that Henry became too big a star for Arsenal and his transfer liberated the team’s youngsters, who were inhibited by his presence. Henry did not like it, though, when reference was made to “Thierry Henry’s Arsenal” rather than plain Arsenal.

“That was annoying because it’s Arsenal playing and people get sucked into it,” he said. “Football has always been a team effort and always will be .”

So, is he enjoying playing for Barcelona and not Thierry Henry’s Barcelona?

“It’s the same thing — now it’s Lionel Messi’s Barcelona,” he said. “Then it’s going to be another player. They always find a player because there is always a player who shines more at times. You have to live with it. We don’t get sucked into it. You never hear a player saying he is more important.”

Arsenal were not expected to thrive without Henry, but they lead the Premier League, having delivered performances of flair and steel. Has Henry noticed anything different?

“The only thing is the last two seasons we didn’t start well,” he said. “This season they did . I know and the boss [Arsène Wenger] knew what the players were capable of doing. Sometimes it is not always easy.

“Two years ago, Chelsea had an amazing year, Manchester United last year had an amazing year. There is quality [at Arsenal], you don’t reach a Champions League final just like this, so it was always going to come. To find out [how] you have to go inside the head of Arsène Wenger and that’s more difficult; he pulls the strings.”

Henry continues to watch Premier League matches and retains a love for English football. “There’s the type of game you can see only in England; 4-1 [the scoreline in Aston Villa’s favour away to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday] with 20 minutes to go and then it’s 4-4. It was 7-4 in Portsmouth against Reading. In two games you have almost 20 goals. It’s ridiculous — not in a bad way but ridiculous, like wow, but that’s the Premiership. If you go to get a bottle of water from your fridge you can miss two goals.”

Does the forward miss those rollercoaster games?

“Not just that, everything,” he said. “Everything about the Premiership, everything about England. The stadiums always full, the whole thing on Saturday, everyone raving about going to the game, going to the stadium, waking up early, walking to the stadium, going to the pub afterwards, talking about the game for the whole weekend.”

Oh, and in case you were wondering, his favourite colour is blue.

“But I don’t wear it,” he said, “that’s weird, huh? It’s difficult to match blue.”

(Courtesy: thetimes.co.za)

Real win again as Barca go second

Recreativo Huelva frustrated Bernd Schuster's side for 73 minutes but could not hold out any longer as van Nistelrooy and Higuain eventually sealed Madrid's sixth win of the season.

The Real goal scorers practising their ballerina duet steps at the Bernabeu

Barcelona rose to second after they secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Athletico Madrid thanks to goals from Deco (17), Lionel Messi (20) and Xavi (90).

Villarreal suffered their second defeat of the season after Osasuna claimed a 3-2 victory. Giuseppe Rossi (20) put the away side ahead but Osasuna replied through Juan Juanfran (21) and Eduardo Dady (34). Diego Godin (36) levelled for Valencia but Franciso Javi Garcia (79) scored late on to hand Jose Angel Ziganda's men all three points.

Sergio Garcia (64) scored Real Zaragoza's opener as they moved up to eighth with a 3-0 win over Levante. Ricardo Oliveira (70 and 82) put the result beyond doubt with a late brace.

Athletic Bilbao were held to a 1-1 draw against Almeria at the Estadio San Mames. Joseba Etxeberria (32) put the home side in front but Felipe Melo levelled with 28 minutes remaining.

Gregorio Manzano's Real Mallorca put on an inspired second half display to come back from two goals behind. Francisco Sousa (3 and 48) put Getafe ahead but Ariel Ibagaza (55), Juan Arango (72 and 79) and Ivan Ramis (93) sealed an impressive 4-2 win.

Sevilla lost their fourth consecutive league game following a 1-0 home defeat to Deportivo La Coruna. Riki got the goal for Deportivo with just 17 minutes remaining.

Elsewhere, Murcia and Real Betis shared the spoils following a 0-0 draw at La Condomina.

(Courtesy: www.teamtalk.com)

Real Madrid overcome battling Betis to regain top spot

Real Madrid maintained their unbeaten record and returned to the top of La Liga after a 2-0 win over Real Betis but they made hard work of despatching the side from Seville on Thursday.

The reigning Spanish champions' captain Raul Gonzalez finally broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after 66 minutes following a foul on him by Betis midfielder David Rivas.

Brazilian international Julio Baptista then got Real's second five minutes from time but the scoreline flattered the reigning Spanish champions with lowly Betis hitting the woodwork no less than three times during the game.

Real started well and had by far the best of the first half hour, and a clear majority of the possession, but gradually Betis worked their way back into the game.

Edu and Mark Gonzalez both had good opportunities to score just before David Rivas sent a header against the post six minutes before the break.

The close shaves meant Madrid left the field at the break with whistles from the Real faithful ringing in their ears and the jeers from their ever-critical fans continued well into the second period until Raul opened the scoring.

Madrid rode their luck once again late in the game when Betis threw everything at them in search of an equaliser.

Firstly Rafael Sobis's free kick skimmed off the cross bar after 75 minutes and Mark Gonzalez then hit the post just a minute later.

The hosts' nerves finally calmed when second half substitute Baptista, who had only been on the field five minutes, hammered home his first goal of the season from the edge of the area.

The victory means that Real Madrid have 13 points from their five matches and a one point lead over Villarreal and Valencia, who are second and third respectively and split by goal difference after both teams won on Wednesday.

By contrast, at the other end of the table, Betis are third from bottom and still looking for their first win this season with only two points to their name.

Villarreal had an impressive 2-0 win at Racing Santander with goals from Turkish international Nihat Kahveci and their American-born Italian striker Guiseppe Rossi.

Valencia laboured to a 2-1 win over struggling Getafe but notched up their fourth successive win with first half goals from Spanish internationals David Silva and David Villa before Braulio Nobrega got one back for Getafe late in the game.

Unbeaten Barcelona are one point further back in fourth after inflicting a 4-1 thrashing on Real Zaragoza later on Wednesday.

All the goals in Barca's Nou Camp stadium came in the first half, with their Argentine international winger Lionel Messi finding the net after just five minutes although Zaragoza's Alberto Zapater equalised four minutes later.

However, the 2006 European champions quickly got back into their stride and Messi took barely a minute before he sent a cross from Deco into the back of the net to give Barca the lead again.

Andres Iniesta and Rafa Marquez added more goals before the break before the Catalan club stepped off the gas in the second half.

"I didn't see anything negative about this team," said Barca coach Frank Rijkaard after the game, responding to public and media criticism about him and his team.

However, Rijkaard might possibly concede that summer signing Thierry Henry once again had a below-par game, a fact which even the excellence of his team mates couldn't hide.

The Frenchman squandering several chances, including two late in the game, which would have added to the Catalan club's tally.

(Courtesy: www.soccerway.com)

Magic Messi leads Barca to route of Zaragoza

Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Lionel Messi had his third straight strong performance for Barcelona - following up a three goals in two games performance last week - scoring two goals while contributing numerous other spectacular plays in a 4-1 victory over Real Zaragoza in La Liga action Wednesday.

The 20-year-old Argentinean took over for the supposedly injured Ronaldinho as the team's top offensive player while Andres Iniesta and Rafael Marquez also added goals for the home side. Alberto Zapater scored the lone goal for the overmatched visitors.

Messi got the scoring started just five minutes in when he worked a give-and- go with Thierry Henry at the top of the box before blasting the return pass past a diving Sanchez Cesar to make it 1-0.

Zaragoza equalized just four minutes later when Zapater took a pass on the right side of the box and blasted a laser into the left side netting.

That was the high point for the visitors, however, because Messi got the game- winner and his second goal of the game just two minutes later when he found a loose ball in the area and blasted it past Cesar to make it 2-1.

Messi was involved in his team's third goal in the 21st minute when he worked a one-two with Deco at the top of the box before touching a through-ball into the six-yard box to spring the midfielder. Deco then touched a pass to the far post, giving Iniesta an easy tap-in for his first league goal of the season.

Marquez headed in a rebound of a Deco free kick in first-half stoppage time to close out the scoring.

With the win, Barcelona climbs to third in the La Liga table, behind leaders Villarreal and Valencia, which are a point up.

Also Wednesday, Villarreal moved to the top of the table for the first time in their history with a 2-0 away win over Racing Santander, Valencia beat Getafe 2-1 in the Mestalla, Almeria earned a 1-0 victory over Real Murcia, Mallorca toped Real Valladolid 4-2, Osasuna dominated last-placed Levante 4-1 and Recreativo and Atletico Madrid earned 2-0 victories over Deportivo and Athletic Bilbao, respectively.

Champions Real Madrid have 10 points from four games in fourth place and host Real Betis at the Bernabeu on Thursday.

(Courtesy: sportsnetwork.com)

Barcelona players defend under-fire Ronaldinho

MADRID (AFP) - Ronaldinho's teammates at Barcelona have rushed to defend the Brazilian striker after he was jeered by fans earlier this week and accused once again by the Spanish press of being under form.

The 27-year-old ace was whistled by a section of the Nou Camp as he was substituted during the second half the 3-0 Champions League home win against Lyon because of what they felt was a lacklustre performace.

Ronaldinho did not look pleased about being replaced for the third straight match by Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard.

"I don't understand why they whistled him. He's the best in the world and a key player in the team," said Argentine striker Lionel Messi.

"He's an incredible player," added Barcelona's new recruit Thierry Henry who acknowledged that Ronaldinho had not been in top form during the team's recent away matches.

The Spanish sports press appear unanimous on their appraisal of Ronaldinho's dip in form, but some appear to believe his star is on the wane.

El Mundo daily on Friday said Ronaldinho is no longer "untouchable" while Barcelona-based La Vanguardia said the player was "in torment".

The toothed one seems to have exhausted his bag of tricks

Ronaldinho could be paying the price for his reported behaviour off the field too. Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia added that 48 hours before Barcelona's goalless draw against Osasuna at home on Sunday Ronaldinho was seen at a a famous nightclub in the city.

"No one understands" the decline in form of the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year award, conservative daily newspaper ABC added.

Written by: AFP

(Courtesy: www.soccerway.com)