Brazil Are Better Than Spain?
Fabio Capello today came out with this little nugget that because his England squad had faced both Spain and Brazil in friendlies, and lost to both I might add, that he thought Brazil had the edge because Brazil defended better and were stronger physically. England created 4 chances against Spain and two against the “mighty” Brazilians.
Of course Capello would say that. Brazil are led by the dour faced Dunga of the ridiculous shirts, who says he admires English football and has made his squad play as one. They have thrown away their national character, their samba football, and play on the counter like an Italian side with the set piece definition of a Blackburn, or a Bolton.
I know. Hard to believe that you would submit yourself to a style of playing antithetical to the manner in which your players are suited for, and more importantly bench your best players because they don’t suit your preferred playing style, but Brazil have. Alexandre Pato, one of the best young players in the world, is a little used substitute at best in Dopey’s selecao? Absurd.
Which is precisely why I think Spain not only will beat Brazil in next year’s World Cup, but win it outright. The best players, playing well together, always trumps a system. As much as Spain are considered to play a possession game, some call them a one-trick-pony, they are not by the way and their style is not just a clinic in tiki-taka. Defensively, they keep the ball away from their opponent and the spine of Pique, Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta are brilliant at it. Offensively, David Silva gives them width and they can most certainly play from the wing. Negredo is a classic English striker, strong in the air but also skilled with the ball at his feet, and Fernando Torres has been terrorizing English style defenders for years now with his pace. Cesc Fabregas? The best midfielder in England, so Spain are not bound by playing through the middle in little triangles anymore. Spain also have a feared, quick strike ability, and they match up well against the slow Brazilian defense. Old-man Lucio of Inter Milan and AS Roma’s Juan are positionally great, but they can be beat in space, and if Gilberto Silva is your holding midfielder I’d be worried.
Brazil have been found out. Attack them with your strength, deny them the ball, and deny them the set-piece and you’ll win.
Let's review Dunga's record:
He crushes Argentina in the Copa Final 3-0.
He crushes Uruguay in Montevideo 4-0.
He wins the Confederations Cup, going undefeated in the process.
He beats Argentina in Rosario 3-1.
Brazil for all the boredom they provide keep winning.
I think Spain or any European team without a more direct approach have very little chance of beating Brazil next year. European nations are very poor in non European world cups.
Besides Cesc Fabergas is far from the top midfielder in England.
Frank Lampard, Ryan Giggs, Steven Gerrard, Michael Ballack (whose record in international play is second to none among active footballers) and a host of others could contend to be considered more effective than Fabergas.
In Fabergas' time as a key player at Arsenal they still have not won a single trophy.
If you're looking for a team that could under the right circumsatnces beat Brazil, look at England. Strong in the air with Crouch, Terry and Rio, and very effective down the flanks with a combination of SWP, Becks, Walcott, J. Cole, etc.
Ultimately, Argentina could also contend next year. The Ivory coast? They could be strong also as could Cameroon. The African sides will benefit from phenomenal home support.
Spain? They'll be okay, but as usual they will bow out at the Quarterfinal stage or earlier. Also, since the Spanish supporters not long ago made monkey chants during a game versus England, and that has been noted by many an African footballer and African fans, don't expect any love from the local for Espana.
"I think Spain or any European team without a more direct approach have very little chance of beating Brazil next year. European nations are very poor in non European world cups"
Kartik I see South Africa as neutral ground and being a predictions man there is no better time like the present in breaking old myths and or streaks. This time round Spain is quite a different Euro side.
"don't expect any love from the local for Espana" and don't expect any hatred. In fact, I suspect the large majority of Black South Africans, who were retricted from Sport (exception being soccer)under apartheid rule won't be rallying around the Cross of St George or the Dutch tricolor if and when the home team is eliminated.
Of course Brazil will be admired for their usual Joga Bonito (beautiful play) but the Spanish midfield is surely to delight the locals and I'm confident this ain't going to be a walk over final between the last two sides left standing.
"Ultimately, Argentina could also contend next year" I hope so as this is truly were my heart lies.
Kartik, it's just getting easier to push your buttons, man.
"Let's review Dunga's record:"
Remember how close he actualy came to getting fired for poor performances leading up to and including the Copa America, Qualifiers and the Olympics. He's probably not as bad as he was then and he's definitely not as good as you think he is. Plus, are you really going to pull the Argentina card? Diego Maradona, the one manager in the world that makes Dopey look less so.
"Direct approach": Plenty of sides have won the World Cup with a ball-control, possession game. Argentina in 78 and in 86 for one example. In the end, talent wins out not styles and Brazil have yet to be tested, and no I don't consider the warm ups in the Confed as such. They aren't as good as that medal confirmed and Spain aren't as bad as that same competition confirmed.
"European sides in non-Euro WC's": First of all, only Brazil have won away from their region (1958 and 2002). The unifying factor? Dominant performances by dominant players Pele and Ronaldo. This year's Brazil? Only Kaka measures up as a dominant force and he's off-form at Real Madrid. Secondly, South Africa is 1 hour ahead of Spain right now so jet lag will be minimal. Weather won't be a factor because it'll be Winter in the Southern hemisphere; it actually might be a negative factor for Brazil.
"Top midfielders": Out of all those mentioned otherwise, only Cesc has actually won an international medal. Michael Ballack's Germany? Runner's up 2002 WC and 2008 Euros (lost to Spain I might add). Third place in 2006 WC and 2005 CC.
"England as challengers?" Terry hasn't been a dominant aerial force in 4 years (check his goals scored, declining every year.) Crouch, despite his height, isn't dominant in the air, preferring close control on the ground. Who else? Rio? Are we looking at the same player? He's not the same dominant force he was in Moscow. All those other wingers you mention? None of them have the ball skills to play with Spain. In the end, the frenetic pace of the English game will always make them flatterers waiting to deceive.
I agree with you that the African sides will challenge, they will have home support, but your assessment of Spain? There isn't some gene or inherant flaw in their national or regional character to explain why Africa have never challenged for a WC, or for that matter why Spain haven't. The same arguments were bandied about about France before they won it in 1998. "Perpetual bottlers, flair players, etc." Spain may not win it, Cruyff's Holland teams are clear examples that the best teams often don't win it all, but they are one of the clear-cut favorites going in.
"Brazil have been found out. Attack them with your strength, deny them the ball, and deny them the set-piece and you'll win."
Haha thats exactly the problem!!! You can't do that to Brazil, "deny them the ball" what joke..
Also just because Dunga has Brazil playing a very mature style with an emphasis on Defense doesn't mean we don't have flair, we can always kick that up and talent is not something we lack.
Spain depend waaaaaaaay too much on Xavi and Iniesta, if you seriousely think anywone else is the heart of Spain you are wrong… Fabregas torres and villa are expendable to them.
Last but not least Spain will try to play open with Brazil which will be their undoing
Brazil: average 1.83 goals scored per game in qualifiers, conceded .61. The offense coming primarily from Luis Fabiano, Nilmar, Kaka and Robinho who are the only ones to score more than 2 goals in qualifiers, their offense coming from their forwards and nowhere else on the pitch.
Spain: average 2.8 goals a game and conceded .5. Almost 1 goal per game more, with a better defense and the offense coming primarily from David Villa, David Silva, Gerard Pique, Juan Mata who all scored more than 2 goals in qualifiers- goals coming from all over the pitch. By the way, the duo of Iniesta and Xavi scored one goal between them, so no I doubt they are too dependent on them.
Spain will be open, but just because Brazil can beat up on Argentina who play a similar game to Spain doesn't mean they'll dominate the European champions. Spain have a better defence than Argentina and are more diverse in attack under Del Bosque. You might be surprised.
Wait and see. World cupis for men!
Brazil 5 Spain 0
A motivated brazilian team is unbeatable!
Regards
@Anonyomous,
"Wait and see. World cupis for men!" yes it is but I seem to remember one of those men getting himself in trouble with the ladies or was that "the men"
http://tinyurl.com/shemale-kickinhead-for-Rona
I win!!! You lose. Brazil have been found out. Scoreboard. Goodnight now anonymous idiots.