2010 World Cup - Spain 0 Switzerland 1 - Group H

[Ridders]

WC favourites about to begin their campaign. Apparently Torres is on the bench with Spain going with their usual 4-1-4-1.

 

[Ridders]

Spain starting lineup - Casillas; Ramos, Pique, Puyol, Capdevila; Silva, Alonso, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Villa.

Switzerland starting lineup - Benaglio; Lichtsteiner, Senderos, Grichting. Ziegler; Inler, Gelson Fernandes, Huggel, Barnetta; Nkufo, Derdiyok.

 

[Ridders]

Games started as expected. Spain owning possession but not creating alot of chances. Their passing has been great.

 

[weasel]

Is it just me or is watching this kinda game like getting kicked in the junk?

 

[Ridders]

Spain have dominated possession but have been punished for poor finishing.

Possibly historic day for Switzerland

 

[weasel]

Spain have been really beautiful to watch today. The tournament was due an upset but why couldn't it have been one of the teams who deserved it like France, England, Italy, Portugal? The real disappointing thing is that Chile were also fantastic tonight, and if this sh*tty defensive Swiss side bumps one of Spain or Chile out of the next round it's gonna be a big loss for the tournament.

 

[Ridders]

Switzerland record their first ever win against Spain. 1-0.

To say that the goal was against the run of play would be the understatement of the century. Oh well. Switzerland parked the bus, but what else did Spain expect them to do?

Hindsight's always perfect I know but maybe Spain should have played Torres and Villa up front?

 

[Ridders]

Spain have been really beautiful to watch today. The tournament was due an upset but why couldn't it have been one of the teams who deserved it like France, England, Italy, Portugal? The real disappointing thing is that Chile were also fantastic tonight, and if this sh*tty defensive Swiss side bumps one of Spain or Chile out of the next round it's gonna be a big loss for the tournament.

Spain put on a passing clinic. They absolutely owned possession. Everytime the Swiss managed to get the ball Spain would win it back almost immediately. It's a shame their style of play wasn't rewarded.

 

[abpanther]

Yeah Spain dominated possession, but they didn't really do much with it until Torres came on. I thought Spain looked great though but they just lacked penetration at times, they need to go forward more often at times

Switzerland's goal was definitely against the run of play, but they did counter attack effectively quite a few times in the game.

 

[andrew057]

Glad to see the floppers get beat. Well done to the Swiss.

 

[Panther_Daz]

Switzerland were the only team ever to go out of a WC without conceeding a goal in 2006. It appears their defence is still as strong as ever.

 

[Mong]

Spain were horrible in front of goal. Asides from Alonso's long range effort that hit the posts they never really looked like getting a goal.

They sure gave a lesson in passing though

 

[Bulldog Force]

That Spanish starting team was of epic fail proportions as much as the Australian team was. Perhaps now we'll learn for the next game. It's do or die. Switzerland deserved to win that game. We didn't take our chances.

 

[weasel]

Care to explain, BF? This is the same formation they've been using since Euro 2008. The only real differences from the Euro tournament is Busquets for Senna, and Pique for Marchena, who is way better anyway. Yeah, Torres was in for Villa late on in the tournament, because Villa was injured.

Nothing wrong with this line-up; this is a team that has won almost all of the games they've played for the last few years, and really should have won last night. They were simply unlucky.

 

[Bulldog Force]

Care to explain, BF? This is the same formation they've been using since Euro 2008. The only real differences from the Euro tournament is Busquets for Senna, and Pique for Marchena, who is way better anyway. Yeah, Torres was in for Villa late on in the tournament, because Villa was injured.

Nothing wrong with this line-up; this is a team that has won almost all of the games they've played for the last few years, and really should have won last night. They were simply unlucky.

Exactly. I knew something was wrong when we were all over them and we just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net! Why a player like Fabregas wasn't started has got me stumped. Yes, even without Cesc we had an great team - but why not have an awesome team? This is the World Cup - the worlds best need to be on stage all the time. I still can't believe we didn't score with the team we had.

 

[abpanther]

I thought Spain had plenty of possession, great lateral passing but they lacked penetration, they need to pick up the pace at times and attack vertically, they should get plenty of opportunities against a very aggressive Chilean side

 

[fish eel]

Exactly. I knew something was wrong when we were all over them and we just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net! Why a player like Fabregas wasn't started has got me stumped. Yes, even without Cesc we had an great team - but why not have an awesome team? This is the World Cup - the worlds best need to be on stage all the time. I still can't believe we didn't score with the team we had.

I thought Fabregas usually came off the bench?

 

[Bulldog Force]

I thought Fabregas usually came off the bench?

50-50 at international level. Thought they might start him for their first game. I will be very surprised if he doesn't start the next game. Very surprised indeed!

 

[Ridders]

It's not like Spain played badly. They dominated the game, but as has been said, were aweful in the final 3rd. Villa had a quite game and Torres was quite wasteful with his chances when he came on, but at least that was understandable.

If I recall even at Euro 2008 Fabregas was a reserve most of the time.

 

[Noa]

Watching the Spain game now, anybody but got some coke or ice.