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by PAM
Europe and the world saw red! Glorious day for La Roja!
They did it! The beautiful Spanish Men in Red wrapped the Euro Cup with the Spanish flag in Kiev, Ukraine... and
Iker Casillas, Número Uno...
El Capitán de la selección
española de futbol.brought it home, to stay for another four years on Spanish soil. And they did it so superbly, so beautifully, so worthy of a place of honor in the history of the 'beautiful game'... made even more beautiful by the dazzling way they play it.
Their victory in Ukraine is indeed historical... Vicente del Bosque González and his brilliant men, captained so ably by "the 1 and only", Iker Casillas, catapulted Spain to a place of honor in the history of the 'beautiful game'. Theirs is the only other side (the other one is Germany) to have won the European Cup thrice! Theirs also became the FIRST and the ONLY side - ever - in the history of UEFA Euro to have successfully defended the title. They won with a record margin, 4-0, too! They also stand as the only European country to hold the European title back to back and the World Cup at the same time = hat-trick of titles, a FIRST in the history of... uhm, mankind! :)
Following a number of eras of brilliant Spanish players with so much promise, but that stayed unfulfilled, Casillas's illustrious era, with Del Bosque's guidance, finally fulfilled the great promise of Spanish football brilliance. They continue to dazzle the world with the beauty of their game. The streets of Spain, and other places in the world, flooded with red-donning fans who shared the joy of La Roja!
Glorious Age, indeed, for Spanish Football! Woohoo!
***
Teamwork worked... because they made it work!
With watery eyes from another terrible fever and sickness (ah, "old friend", how very bad to see you! Aargh!)... I watched red shirts being hooked together on the pitch by the ball, moving like one body, held together by an invisible
Great hook-up: Xavi playing architect,
Cesc feeding, David finishing - goal!thread weaved by the fast-moving ball towards the Italian goal from the very beginning of the match. I knew right there and then that they were going to bring home the European Cup... with their country's name engraved on it.
It didn't take long, in fact, only 14 minutes into the first half, when they made their intention clear. David Silva reached with his whole diminutive body, like his very life depended on it. He pierced a hole through the Azzurri space and headed powerfully a great diving cross from Cesc Fàbregas, which in turn was fabricated from a Xavi Hernández vision. Silva beat Gianluigi Buffon, to put Spain in front early on, 1-0.
That stung the Italians, injecting adrenaline into their veins... twitching them to mobility. But the Spanish side continued their cohesive move, never losing sight of the ball...
Teamwork... at work. And it worked!and of each other. No one was playing hero. Everyone provided space unselfishly when another needed one, taking the initiative when another one provided a chance, coming together to weave an invisible defensive net to catch the ball when their opponent took aim at their goal, moving fast, fast... and faster still, taking possession and rolling the ball incessantly into the Italian goal, thinking and moving in unison. They weren't "menacing" at all... the fluid and artistic way by which they moved the ball on the pitch was beautiful, graceful, breathtaking - mesmerizing! It was easy to imagine how the Italians were very close to just abandoning their posts... and just watch the Spaniards weave such captivating beauty on the pitch.
To their great credit, the Italians gripped their ground... stayed focused on keeping toe-to-toe with the Men in Red... but it was a job that proved to be too much for them... a
Jordi Alba: small, fast, slippery... "terrible"!job their collective skills cannot match... perhaps, will never match in this age and time, not until this particular group of Men in Red went off the pitch, and took the stands instead, too old to kick the ball in a competitive run. In the end, they were "jobbed-in"! Before long, the slippery little defender, Jordi Alba, went loose in a sprint, and was lost by the Italian defenders to complete a superb pass from the midfield Maestro, Xavi, just a few yards from the middle of the pitch. Jordi drove it into a truly unforgettable goal! INCREDIBLE, EXCITING, BEAUTIFUL! :) The neck of Mario Balotelli craned, his face giving away a shaken feeling... Italy's captain, Gigi Buffon's eyes watered a bit. 2-0, in the first half... too steep of a mountain to climb, especially how Spain is not letting go of the ball - at all!
***
Determination, inspiration... fun!
To be fair, the Italians didn't lose heart... creating a number of superb chances for themselves, too. But with San Iker manning the Spanish goal, a "superb effort" easily became an "effort falling short". Casillas is too good... the best goalkeeper in this generation - no doubt about that! He is the most reliable man at the back of one's half of the pitch. Even I, as spectator, I could just concentrate on
The Azzurri, blinded by Spanish brilliance
but remained respectful of the beautiful game.figuring out Spain's attacking run each time they aim for the goal because, in those rare moments when the direction of the ball reversed to the Spanish half, I was never worried... I am assured that Iker will stop the ball, or at least break bones trying. He gives peace to a fan's heart. What a gifted goalkeeper Iker is!
Tormented by the blinding Spanish brilliance, the Italians continued to scamper to mount an attack... unlike the Oranje in the 2010 World Cup though, they didn't resort to karate and judo! ;) The Azzurri showed integrity and reverence for the 'beautiful game'... and played honest to goodness football, which was absolutely wonderful to watch! With about 20 minutes remaining, Pedro Rodríguez relieved David Silva... and kicked a blistering shot to the Italian goal a few minutes after getting the feel of the Kiev pitch, but it was called offside. Oh, well....
The Italians continued to hustle for the ball, even when they were short one man short... and looked for a goal. But about 15 minutes before the final whistle, del Bosque made an inspired substitution. He called off Fàbregas, who had been so effectively doing his part in the Spanish attack... and had been very, very close to getting a goal for Spain, and sent Fernando Torres in front for a refreshed attacking mood for the Spanish side. The Spaniards on the pitch welcomed the Torres entrance... Sergio Ramos smiled hugely, as if to say, "playtime! Let the fun begin!" :) Ugh, boys! :)
But Torres took care of business first. Merely two minutes on the pitch, Torres proved the substitution timely
Fernando Torres: going for it - again...
a kick of historical significance. and wise... he received Xavi's pass, faked a move against a couple of Italian defenders, stepped on the brake, turned around swiftly, continued to sprint and gave the ball a decisive flick without stopping his sprint, fooling Gigi Buffon into waiting a bit, while the ball rolled nicely into the far end of the goal. Buffon was consequently beaten... and so was the rest of his side in the final, 3-0. Everyone knew then that the match had been decided. The 'beautiful consquitador' who gave Spain its winning goal in the Euro four years before, allowed history to repeat itself by providing the goal that sealed their victory... only, this time, he created another one - by sealing their victorious defense of the Title. What a foresight from Del Bosque!
Del Bosque, showing a taste for some adventure himself, pulled out the incredible Andrés Iniesta, who had been superbly and incessantly keeping the ball in play for Spain, together with Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, from the pitch. In effect, Del Bosque
"Boys" in red: Jordi, Nando, Juan...
2,3,4 goals - partéh! Olé, olé, olé!showered the Ukrainian pitch with yet another one of his "new brew", Juan Mata. Perhaps, Del Bosque listened to a whisper from Lady Luck... Iniesta has been very, very close to getting a goal for almost 90 minutes now but didn't have the needed luck... perhaps, Lady Luck wanted someone else to do the job? Hmm...
Torres grinned hugely at the entry of his fellow Chelsea guy. Just a couple of minutes before the final whistle, Torres caught Xavi's pass, sprinted towards the goal, magneting blue shirts to himself. But El Niño was having fun, and decided to get the still-cold-from-the-bench Mata, who just arrived in front of the goal, into the party. Torres positioned himself for a massive right foot kick, which Gigi Buffon anticipated like a beast that he was in their semi-final match with the Germans... and then Torres kicked the ball sideways with the same right foot to play Mata in front of the goal. Mata was apparently in a "party mood" himself, reacted sharply and sent the ball in a clinical kick to the un-manned Italian goal.
That did the Italians in, they were 'jabbed' good and well, covered with bruises... but not in shame. The final whistle was blown... Vicente del Bosque became the most
VdB - cool cat! successful Spanish National Team manager. More importantly, it was mission accomplished for the brilliant Spaniards, 4-0... VICTORY!!! :)
Lady Luck designed the whole thing so nicely... a historical victory with record-setting 4-0 margin, with the first of four goals coming in at the 14th minute, and the second at the 41st. The goal that sealed the win came in at the 84th minute, with the icing on the cake coming in at the 88th minute (divided by 2 = 44)... but it was Spain's 3rd European Cup, and the 3rd International win in a row... the 2nd for Del Bosque!
Indeed, they were "destined" for Greatness!
And, uhm... yeah, I turned 44 today. Uhm, ahem... what was I sayin'? Nevermind, movin' on.... ;)
***
But, hey, you know what...
...the officiating was superb, too! The match officials deserve kudos! The reason why it was possible to just enjoy the terrific European football right there, albeit almost one-sided in the brilliance division, the heavyweight being Spain, was because the officiating was not distracting. The calls were all justified, no controversies, no doubts of the integrity by which the match was being oversaw. The officials deserved a round of applause, too. So, kudos! Clap, clap, clap... :)
So, yeah... Iker Casillas lifted the European Cup for his team and his country! Very well-deserved! CONGRATULATIONS, "Mamá España"! ;)
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Photo credits: All photos were grabbed at the Zimbio website - thanks! :)
