Bravo Spain...... Braaaaavooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

The champions of Europe are now the CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. A well and truly deserved win to one of the biggest under achievers of world football. Spain is not just a 1st-time winner, but first team to win the World Cup after losing opening game of tournament. This victory sees Spain become only the third nation to hold the European and world football crowns at the same time, two years on from their European Championships success in Vienna.


Tonight, Andres Iniesta is the hero of a nation. The midfielder from Albacete is 26. Xavi said of Andrés Iniesta in 2009 the following “Iniesta is easily Spain’s most complete player. He has everything.” According to Wayne Rooney " Andres Iniesta is the best football player in the world today". And what he said was exactly correct. It was the 'footballing brain' of Iniesta that won Spain the WC 2010. Iniesta's winner was met with scenes of joy in Madrid, where over 200,000 ( Source : BBC) fans gathered to watch the match on a big screen in the city centre. We had a disppointing start with a 1-0 loss against Swiss but however, the Spanish grew stronger as the tournament progressed, impressing fans with their unrivalled passing game and strong defence. We conceded just two goals throughout the tournament and reached the final thanks to impressive victories over Portugal, Paraguay, Germany in the knockout stage. Spain joins seven other nations to have won the World Cup in 19 tournaments since Uruguay won the inaugural title in 1930, and caps a stunning run of 15 victories in 16 matches during qualifying and the South Africa Finals. We came into the WC by winning 10/10 matches in the qualifiers. With an unbeatable streak of 48 games and winning 45 of those ( Beating the record of Frank Pushkas lead Hungary team in the 50's). The Dutch missed the opportunity to repeat Brazil's heroics of 1970, when the Samba kings won all of their qualifying matches before sweeping the group and knock-out clashes on the way to our victory in the final. With most of the focus on the creativity of Iniesta and Xavi and the goal-scoring feats of David Villa, defender Sergio Ramos toiled unheralded for most of the tournament but he owned this final.

As I said time and time again " A champion team can always beat a team of champions' and SPAIN is a champion team. FIFA already recognized Spain's impressive run by placing three Spanish players on the shortlist for Golden Ball award nominees, more than any other team. Now its time to celebrate. Bravo Spain. Viva La Espanaaaaaaaa...

Germany humiliated Argentina ( Round of 8 match, WC 2010 -- A small analysis

Now Argentina can go home. Germany stormed into the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup with a 4-0 drubbing of Argentina. Congratulations to Germany. They got off to a flier, exposed all the Argentine defensive weaknesses -- the ones that everyone knew about but chose to ignore --early on and played a smart defensive game. As the game wore on, the more Argentina pushed, the more susceptible they were to counterattacks. And the Germans showed once again that they're ruthless on the break. Once the game was 2-0, it was really all over. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller were outstanding today.


Argentina? Aside from a spell after about 20 minutes, they never got going today, did they? Still, they've been a treat to watch here.Must say they were over dependant on Messi – an ultra hyped player. They ain’t had a so called ‘MIDFIELD GENERAL’ to control the game but Germany had one in Bastian Schweinsteiger. They lacked a tactical game plan, and some creativity in the midfield. Maradona is a great player. Perhaps the best player to have graced the game of Football. But as a coach, he was an utter failure which was very well evident from the WC qualifiers. Germans unleashed a merciless massacre which made Argentines look so limp! Feeling sorry for Maradona's heartbreak .. A real team takes the stage. The German team was hungry for a win and nationally proud. If more nations had such team pride as opposed to personal glory the competition would be much more fierce, vastly more entertaining and ultimately a greater event. A well deserved win for the Germans. Now BYE BYE ARGENTINA!!!!!

Netherland vs Brazil (WC 2010 round of 8 match-- a review)

The 1982 world cup will be remembered for Yohan kryuff's inspired Holland side which introduced a new style of free flowing and attacking football. Though they lost in the final, the world called their new style as 'TOTAL FOOTBALL'. In 1990 world cup, Marcus Van Basten's Holland side lost in the finals but their average goals per game was three. Without a fraction of doubt, Holland are the biggest under achievers in world football. And now in 2010, Holland are into the semi's trashing the so called 'Undisputed kings' of World football, Brazil 2-1 in the quarter finals of this world cup.

Brazil started well with attacking and free flowing football which led to a clinical goal by Robinjo. They were playing as a team and they had that killing instinct right from the beginning. But after scoring the goal, they forgot the fact that ' Attack is the best form of Defence'. Dutch came back strongly. When the equalizer came shortly after half-time, it changed the game completely and the Oranje suddenly looked confident going forward. And about Arjen Robben. Just one word 'FANTASTIC'. Even though they started the 2010 World Cup without the Bayern Munich winger due to injury, but the tricky winger has already made a huge impact for Oranje since returning to full match fitness. He was fouled more than 15 times and Bastos even recieved a yellow card for persistent attack on Robben. He was just amazing. True class. None of the Brazilians were able to cope up the calibre, class and pace. Mark Van Bommel and Nigel De long were not only the muscles of this Holland, but also the engine behind their attacking play. Liverpool winger Dirk Kuyt is known for his excellent condition and speed and the versatile attacker was more than content to track back in order to defend Maicon whenever possible. It doesn't stop there though for the former Feyenoord star, as he had the stamina to run forward, too. In what will be a battle of the fittest, Kuyt came out as the winner.

Well Brazil was truly outperformed by the Dutch squad. I wonder why Dunga preferred a crap like Fabiano over a fantastic young talent like Nilmer. What happened to Kaka? He is just the shadow of his old game. There was always the possible second goal for Brazil, but Melo was red carded for stomping on Robben and then the game was nothing but a waiting game and Melo truly deserved a Red card. Now it was pay back time for Holland. Remember the 1994 WC with Dunga captaining the Brazil side. Twelve years later, Holland finally got their revenge and Van Marwijk's didn’t allowed this chance to make amends for '94 and '98 go by just like that. Hats off to Robben, Snieder, Van Bommel and the whole Dutch side. Bye Bye Brazil.