So here we are then. The semi finals of a World Cup, and the fixture list has just handed us a slab of pure, unadulterated drama. Spain, playing with...
So here we are then. The semi finals of a World Cup, and the fixture list has just handed us a slab of pure, unadulterated drama. Spain, playing with the kind of serene possession that can drive a neutrally minded observer to distraction, have clinically dismantled a France side that simply failed to turn up. The final score, 0. 2 at the full time whistle, barely reflects the chasm in desire and tactical clarity between the two outfits.For France, this was a performance that will invite serious inquisition. They were listless, bereft of ideas, a team that looked as though they had already booked their tickets for the final. Didier Deschamps' side, usually so robust in their transitional play, were caught in a low block that Spain's intricate passing patterns simply unlocked at will. There was no press, no urgency, just a quiet acceptance of their fate. It was, for a side of their quality, a staggering abdication of responsibility. You have to ask: where was the bite in midfield Where was the explosive threat on the counter They bottled it on the biggest stage, and make no mistake about it.Spain, conversely, were masters of the occasion. Their build up play was patient without being ponderous, and when the gaps did appear, their clinical finishing was ice cold. They have found a way to marry their traditional philosophy with a sharper edge, a willingness to punish the slightest error. They look like a team that believes this is their year, and you would be a fool to bet against them now. They are not just passing for the sake of it; they are passing to hurt you. That is a dangerous evolution.But the real noise, the real squeaky bum time, will erupt in the build up to this evening's clash. England versus Argentina. A match that needs no hype, no grandiloquent billing. It is a fixture loaded with history, with political undercurrents, with pure, raw footballing animosity. Gareth Southgate's England have shown tactical flexibility, grinding out results when the performance has been lacking. Argentina, meanwhile, are a cauldron of emotion led by a genius who seems to be operating on a different plane of existence. How do England deal with that Can they park the bus and hit on the break, or will they have the audacity to go toe to toe It is a question that will define a generation. Stay tuned to GoalZaza for the fallout.
