Pass Pass Bore Bore

This is a random rant which I composed at 330 am after watching Spain struggle past Portugal but was too tired to post so doing it now.

• Vicente Del Bosque has completely lost the plot in terms of his team selection. He is more Tinkerman than Low and Ranieri
• Negredo hardly had any match time in the group stages & then he was thrown into the deep-end in a critical semi-final match. Needless to say, he played like a donkey...and speaking of donkeys, Pique looks like a shadow of his club version. Puyol is missed.
• What does Llorente need to do to get match-time? He's had a long season with Bilbao and his fitness dipped towards the end of the season but he brings a different dimension to this Spanish attack
• Jordi Alba is a brilliant left back. Barca have got a steal at 14m Euros.
• Xavi has had an average Euro 2012 and was shocking in the semis. Looks like age is catching up with him - Time for Cesc to step up for both club and country.
• While Xavi and Iniesta are wonderful for Barca, its Messi who makes them look brilliant. Messi drops down deep, collects the ball from midfield, drags the central defender out creating space for the other 2 in the Barca frontline (Pedro or Alexis or Villa) and sometimes just runs at the other defenders trying to beat them. NO ONE DOES THAT FOR SPAIN. Without that end product, all the tiki taka is pretty pointless
• Xabi Alonso has been the heartbeat for Spain these last 3 weeks, everything good goes through him and his range of long passes are almost Scholes-esque. My candidate for best player in the tournament.

How should Spain line-up against Italy in the finals (though it won't happen knowing Del Bosque)

 

Casillas

Arbeloa-Pique-Ramos-Alba

Xabi-Busquets

Navas-Silva-Iniesta

Torres

Fabregas, Xavi, Pedro and Llorente to come off the bench if needed