Debate is raging in Spain as to whether Cesc
Fàbregas should continue up front against the Republic of Ireland but
Graham Hunter feels coach Vicente del Bosque warrants more faith.
Media, fans,
ex-professionals and everyone other than Rafael Nadal, who has had other
matters on his hands, have piled into the debate over Spain, the 'false
No9' and whether Cesc Fàbregas, Fernando Torres or even Fernando
Llorente should start against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
Personally, I've been waiting until I hear whether the Eurogroup, who loaned €100bn to Spain, imposed the criterion that there'd be no cash until Vicente del Bosque agreed to play a traditional centre-forward. Watch this space.
Cesc Fàbregas scored Spain's leveller against Italy
Personally, I've been waiting until I hear whether the Eurogroup, who loaned €100bn to Spain, imposed the criterion that there'd be no cash until Vicente del Bosque agreed to play a traditional centre-forward. Watch this space.
What's
hard to understand is why Del Bosque is being questioned again. People
can disagree with his idea, but if anyone has earned a bit of trust it's
the Marquis Del Bosque.
Often you learn invaluable nuggets of
information after a tournament is finished and the participants relax
sufficiently to unlock little secrets which they guarded closely during
the heat of battle. Mine, two years ago in South Africa, was that there
was a bit of a wobble after the Switzerland defeat in the first group
match.
In front of us, the players had trained and talked precisely as normal – intense with their boots on, friendly and articulate before the microphone. But there was a mini-crisis summit in the cricket pavilion which housed Spain's leisure facilities in North-West University Potchefstroom.
Del Bosque, his captains and a couple of senior players like Carlos Marchena and Pepe Reina thrashed out a few issues. At that moment, the debate was almost entirely focused on the double-pivot system. Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso playing together was 'too negative' in the summary view of the critics.
After the tournament, players admitted that Del Bosque's most vital moment was ignoring the critics, sticking to his tactical plan and controlling possession, partly thanks to the double-pivot system, sufficiently to win 1-0 four times en route to the title.
The debate this time surrounds Fàbregas – five goals and joint top scorer in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup; winning goalscorer in the semi-final and golden player of the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship; a goal, a decisive penalty and a clutch of assists while triumphing at UEFA EURO 2008; and the assist for the winner in the FIFA World Cup final two years ago.
Aged only 25 and principally a midfielder, he has more than 100 professional goals, in fact. Everyone will have their own preferred solutions to Spain's need for more goal power, but if the Marquis Del Bosque chooses Fàbregas then both men should have earned our trust by now.
In front of us, the players had trained and talked precisely as normal – intense with their boots on, friendly and articulate before the microphone. But there was a mini-crisis summit in the cricket pavilion which housed Spain's leisure facilities in North-West University Potchefstroom.
Del Bosque, his captains and a couple of senior players like Carlos Marchena and Pepe Reina thrashed out a few issues. At that moment, the debate was almost entirely focused on the double-pivot system. Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso playing together was 'too negative' in the summary view of the critics.
After the tournament, players admitted that Del Bosque's most vital moment was ignoring the critics, sticking to his tactical plan and controlling possession, partly thanks to the double-pivot system, sufficiently to win 1-0 four times en route to the title.
The debate this time surrounds Fàbregas – five goals and joint top scorer in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup; winning goalscorer in the semi-final and golden player of the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Championship; a goal, a decisive penalty and a clutch of assists while triumphing at UEFA EURO 2008; and the assist for the winner in the FIFA World Cup final two years ago.
Aged only 25 and principally a midfielder, he has more than 100 professional goals, in fact. Everyone will have their own preferred solutions to Spain's need for more goal power, but if the Marquis Del Bosque chooses Fàbregas then both men should have earned our trust by now.
No comments:
Post a Comment