Real nice article, Phil Ball is meh favourite sports writer of late.
This article is about who is better between Spain and Brasil, it seems Fabio Capello thinks it is Brasil. Phil Ball disagreed and put forward reasons why.
After the Brazil v England game in Doha on Saturday night, Fabio Capello remarked, amongst other things, that Brazil were a better side than Spain and were more likely favourites for the crown in South Africa. In justifying this view, he said that Brazil were physically stronger, and that they defended better.
'Respetable', as the Spanish are wont to say when they disagree diplomatically. Fabio is paid much more than I am for offering his views, but I did decide to take time out over the weekend to watch the two friendlies, Spain v Argentina and Brazil v England, with a view to forming an opinion on who might be still there in the later stages in summer, walking out for the semi-finals, at the very least.
Not forgetting the usual suspects Germany, Italy, and a couple of possibilities from Africa, the most obvious thing to conclude is that if thinness of squads is to be a factor, England will have to wait until 2018, and only then if they manage to be picked as hosts. Capello's second-string were disappointing in almost all facets under the glare of the Khalifa Stadium's lights, and as such it might be a tad premature of Fabio to declare Brazil the favourites on grounds (partly) of their defence. If nobody attacks you - as England didn't - no wonder you look good.
The point about Spain's relative physical weakness has some truth to it, but it didn't seem to worry them too much in the European Championships of 2008. Teams whose intention it was to kick them out of their stride had to catch them first. None of them did. The only side in the last few years to raise any question marks about Spain was, oddly enough, the USA, whose simple (but fair) harrying tactics and speedy counter-attacks produced an unexpected shock in the Confederations Cup, but you could still put it down to an off-day. Argentina tried the same in Madrid on Saturday night, but still went home defeated.
Brazil looked ok in Doha, but they hardly had to break sweat. With all due respect to Darren Bent, the defences in the Premier League are still a poor preparation for a game against Brazil, scarce though the service was to him on Saturday night. In the Premier League, Bent is accustomed to his team actually having the ball from time to time, in advanced positions. It helps. He huffed and puffed, but he never came close to blowing anyone's house down. And in the second half, there was a rather amusing cameo when James Milner decided to take on Maicon - I think it was - with a little step-over and a shuffle. Oh well - you couldn't fault him for trying, but the attempted trickery would hardly have ruffled a ten year-old on the Copacabana. Stick to what you know best Jim.
So are Brazil 'stronger' than Spain, to quote Fab's actual adjective? I ain't so sure, but like the rest of the Spanish press I am equally reluctant to 'vender la piel del oso antes de cazarlo' (sell the bearskin before I've even shot the critter). The Spanish are increasingly paranoid about talking their team up as favourites, given that they've learned their lesson about this in the past, and given their unusual discipline before the 2008 competition - refusing to get carried away and actually galvanising the team with their permanent criticism of Luis Aragonés. But on Saturday night it was difficult not to get drawn into launching a few verbal fireworks, so good were Spain in general. The only cold water thrown at the sparklers were the words of Capello. The Spanish have always been terrified of his honesty, but they respect him nonetheless.
Argentina, of course, were also under the microscope. The fact that they only just qualified for South Africa has broken little ice with the general perception of them as a world force. They also have little understanding of the phrase 'friendly match'. It is an integral part of their national sporting character to be rabidly competitive, and the spirit is very much intact. Argentina don't like to lose to anyone, and were also in need of some collective therapy after the traumas of the qualifying stages. What better team to do it against but Spain, tipped by several as favourites for South Africa?
The final result, 2-1, masks the truth of a game in which Spain were vastly superior in most phases (save perhaps the beginning of the 2nd half) but in which Argentina, clearly in terminal decline, were still able to put up a decent fight. That said, a squad that counts on Collocini (who could never defend, even in his better days), Cambiasso and Gago (the former a Real Madrid reject and the latter about to become one), Heinze and Demichelis, both built for battle but for little else, will understandably condemn poor Messi to looking a bit lost. While Tévez came on and did his usual headless chicken act, only Di María really looked the part. Kun Agüero was never going to take part, but he would surely have given Argentina more edge. Diego Maradona claimed after the game that Argentina were the better side in the second half, but Diego has never been famed for his calm objectivity. They were better for about fifteen minutes, during which they scored a (dubious) penalty.
Spain, on the other hand, just continue to get better. The depth of the squad is frightening, at least in midfield. When Sevilla's Jesus Navas came on for a well-deserved debut in the second half, his immediate speed, hunger and international credentials were blatantly evident. How is Del Bosque going to put together a squad with so much talent frothing over the rim? Who is he going to leave behind? Good question. On Saturday night there was no Fernando Torres, no Marcos Senna, no Dani Güiza, no Santi Cazorla, no Carlos Marchena, no Albert Riera... do you want me to go on? Cesc Fabregas is still not guaranteed a game, and only came on for the final half hour. How scary is that? In fact, Spain's initial line-up consisted exclusively of players playing in Spain.
Spain have weaknesses in defence? Maybe. It's true that Sergio Ramos has a tendency to go walkabout when he plays full-back, and that his decision making is better when he plays at centre-half. Ramos' problem is that he thinks he's Dani Alves, and maybe Alves' problem is that he thinks he's Ramos - but let's just go with the first part. Ramos' occasional dodginess does not detract from the fact that he is a great player, and one who would breeze into any international side. If Ramos were English, he'd be the first name on Capello's team-sheet.
Carles Puyol isn't the force he once was, and even in his heyday he could be guilty of poor positioning, but he represents the old spirit of the 'furia', the idea that when the going gets tough, the Spanish are up for it. Carlos Marchena, although a more quiet assassin, comes into the same category, and takes no prisoners. Add Ramos and Senna to the mix and the side is hardly a collection of fly-by-nights. Argentina tried to ruffle them, but failed. Gerard Piqué has also emerged as a major figure, after returning from Manchester United. Raúl Albiol wasn't great in the second half, and the Argentines seemed to sense it - but the idea that Spain's defence may be their undoing this summer is still a question for the jury to consider.
They do have the best goalkeeper in the world too, just in case anyone's forgotten. Iker Casillas was substituted in the 88th minute of Saturday's game not because he was injured but because Vicente Del Bosque wanted to manipulate a situation whereby the great one could be applauded from the field on the occasion of his 100th game for Spain. Very occasionally, Casillas has been criticised for slumps in form during the last ten years, but the public fuss that has accompanied these brief periods bear witness to the scarcity of their happening. Casillas is off form? The world has tipped on its axis.
To have managed 100 international appearances in only nine years is impressive enough, but the statistics of his era make significant reading too. The win over Argentina was the 71st victory with Casillas between the sticks, beating the previous record of 70 held by Andoni Zubizarreta. The latter also holds the record number of appearances for Spain (125), but only bubonic plague will prevent Casillas from beating that figure.
The other factor that Capello forgets is that Spain's midfield functions in such a way as to take the pressure off its defence, even if it were a little creaky. Argentina looked mesmerized in the first half, only getting a breather when they managed to floor a passing Spaniard - a tactic that is still a depressing feature of the South Americans' repertoire. Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernandez - the latter generously praised by Maradona on the day before the game - played either side of Sergio Busquets (who along with Piqué is the new golden discovery), and the threesome fed the shifting dynamics of the three players in front of them, Andres Iniesta, the excellent David Silva, and David Villa.
Even when Alvaro Negredo came on for Silva, Spain looked no less threatening. Negredo is probably well down in the pecking order for a trip to South Africa, but he still looks a classy player with a traditional centre-forward look to him. Strange that Real Madrid were so ready to let him go, although the fact that Sevilla were prepared to put €15 million down for him probably helped to persuade them.
Brazil are stronger (Capello meant 'better') than Spain? Well maybe that made the defeat in Qatar a little easier for him to take, but good though Brazil are, I saw nothing in Doha on Saturday night to suggest that they are the obvious favourites for summer's trophy. With Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham and Walcott in the mix, not to mention John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, Brazil might have been obliged to have broken a little more sweat.
Nice try Fabio. At least it got people talking. Spain must indeed continue to be self-aware, but at the moment, if I had any money - I know who I'd put it on.
