Spains last 7 tournament games...

Kyle?

There was only one player doing that tonight and that was the Biscuits.

There was only one player doing that tonight and that was Biscuits.
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Iniesta went over easily a few times too. They're the 2 worst culprits.

Okay I take that back but stand by my opinion that Germany need to improve. You all criticise Spain for tippi tappi football but it is their style and they are successfully with it.

Spain come across as a little quixotic to me.

They have an abundance of talented, creative central midfielders, but Del Bosque's insistence to force as many as possible into one team has seen them lose width, directness, and with the exception of when Torres (and briefly Negredo) plays, it has seen them lose a natural attacking outlet.

The lack of natural widemen in attacking areas wouldn't be such a problem if they weren't so unwilling to play their full-backs in.
The amount of times Arbeloa was in space down the right-flank, only to be ignored as one of the midfielders tried to thread the ball through the tiniest of gaps was ridiculous.

Spain only created opportunities when Croatia brought on more strikers and left themselves exposed in the middle.

Alba pushes forward continually, whilst Sergio Ramos has a tendency to charge out of central defence to try and close down the opposition, leaving their left side of defence very exposed; a pacey wing-forward like Walcott could easily exploit this.

Stay compact, tuck in the full-backs, slant your play slightly towards the right and have a front-man and/or wing-forward able to hold up play and break away at pace down the channels (particularly the right one) and Spain can be beaten, IMO.

It's not their fault that every team they face puts 10 men behind the ball. They are certainly beatable but there's not a team in the world which can go toe to toe against them.

Comparing Barcelona to Spain is actually offensive to Barca.

They play more direct football than Spain. Spain are just ultimate grinders.

To be fair as great Iniesta and Xavi are, they are the reason why Spain look 'boring'.

Players like Alonso, Cesc and Silva are direct. When they see an open space, they exploit it. With Iniesta and Xavi they always prefer to play it in close spaces, which isn't always the best.

IMO Spain have to play Cesc next game. Him and Torres. You can't drop either Iniesta or Xavi, but them two give Spain something else.

Spain

Busquets

Alonso

Jesus Nevas

Spain play keep ball to tire the opposition. Yes they're beatable (especially with Ramos and Pique at the back) but to suggest that a deliberate ploy orchestrated by Del Bosque is somehow a weakness is a little far.

England haven`t a hope against Spain. Like Ireland they give the ball away far too much to the opposition.