The Football.....
- Thread starter Spartak
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
I would have liked to have seen Germany in the final too, I think they'd have made a better game of it, but that's how the cookie crumbled (or whatever the appropriate cliché is). Sadly games are decided by goals rather than deserves, though I do wonder if penalty shoot-outs can't be replaced by judges decision - kinda like boxing 
mangaman
Guest
Bah,Germay deserved to be in that final,i bet they would have "trashed" Spain
They didn't deserve to be in the finals - they were outplayed by Italy.
And Spain would have thrashed Germany as well, more than likely
I'd say Brazil 1970 just gets it as they were more exciting to watch at the time (though they probably seem slow by modern standards) - however they had the worst world cup final goalie of all time.
I cannot think of any international side in between who were better - at club level maybe AC Milan in the late 80s
I cannot think of any international side in between who were better - at club level maybe AC Milan in the late 80s
RedRider
Pulling through
- Location
- Location Embrocation
Just listening to a discussion about where this Spain side sits among the greats. Tim Vickory reckons it's the Brazil '58 to '62 side that's most revered in Brazil and the Uruguay '25 side is the other South American contender. Hungary '53 also getting a mention and Nederlands '74-'78.
They're talking about these sides revolutionising the game, changing the way it's played.
I've seen that Hungary side in old clips and they look remarkable. Their contemporaries look proper old school grandads running jerkily after the ball in calf length shorts but the Magyars appear modern sophisticates.
They're talking about these sides revolutionising the game, changing the way it's played.
I've seen that Hungary side in old clips and they look remarkable. Their contemporaries look proper old school grandads running jerkily after the ball in calf length shorts but the Magyars appear modern sophisticates.
Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
You can never really compare teams or players from different eras because conditions change so much. Not every great player from the past would be able to achieve the level of fitness needed to play the modern game, just as some of today's players couldn't cope with the level of on pitch violence that was seen as a normal part of the game up to fairly recent decades. Goalkeepers are a case in point, how would the top ones from years ago cope with the smaller, lighter faster moving ball of today? They didn't even wear gloves unless it was wet because the ball was easier to handle, neither did they have to act as a sweeper because there was no back-pass rule to prevent them picking the ball up.
Agreed.
Whilst it's natural and engaging to make comparisons across the decades, I do feel they can never be fairly made like-for-like. I think also the notion of what is entertaining and/or effective also changes. Apparently, the long ball game was considered 'where it's at' at one point! I know, unbelievable isn't it
Absotively. We have a TV channel specifically devoted to the football team of my preference and during this close season, they have to find some way of filling air time so they are showing lots and lots and lots of games going well into the past. Individual clips tend only to show a hero of yesteryear at his glorious best but when they show an entire game, the differences become obvious. I watched an early 60s cup final a few days ago and the players of those days who are still revered today look pudgy, slow, ponderous and are dropping with cramp! Even so, they won the game so are, on the whole, better than their opposition.
Then I watched the glorious Celtic victory against Internazionale in the European Cup Final of 1967; same thing. The football looks like that you'd see in the lower or amateur leagues nowadays so there's clearly been a massive change in the game and the demands of today's football rendering comparisons with yesteryear daft.
RedRider
Pulling through
- Location
- Location Embrocation
Agree with the above, even Hodgson's England would probably defeat a 1950's Brazil side if a time machine was invented but I think one can point to game-changers of the past. One probably needs a perspective of ten years to properly judge this Spain side in that context. Personally, I think they're up there among the list but one would have to question whether the Barca model they seem based upon is really that different from the Ajax way or otherwise an evolution. And take the pressing game Spain play... Within my football watching lifetime I've seen Liverpool dominate the club scene, defending from the front with Arrigo Sacchi citing those early 80's teams as the model for his great AC Milan system and so on etc
defy-one
Guest
Agreed.
Whilst it's natural and engaging to make comparisons across the decades, I do feel they can never be fairly made like-for-like. I think also the notion of what is entertaining and/or effective also changes. Apparently, the long ball game was considered 'where it's at' at one point! I know, unbelievable isn't it
Shame we still play that system,first with Crouch and now with Carrol
007fair
Senior Member
- Location
- Glasgow Brr ..
weather..?
I can only agree. Spain really came alive in the final, and, however much at fault the Italian defenders were in the build-up to all four goals, the way they were taken was superb. I thought Silva's dash in to the penalty area and Fabregas's cross to him was one of the slickest items I've ever seen.Cardiff fans should now be suitably reassured to know that red is officially better than blue.
I have to hold my hands up to being no fan of tica taca and to subscribing to the "Spain are boring" club. I wanted anyone other than Spain to win. But, tonight they were fantastic. Worthy winners and by some stretch the best team in the tournament. Thought Jordi Alba stood out and have my fingers crossed that Iniesta will come to QPR in the transfer window
And now....... I was completely wrong about Rangers going straight back in to the Premiership. It looks like they're headed for the Scottish Third Division. I've a feeling this will hurt the other Premiership clubs more than it will hurt Rangers2, but the most remarkable thing is that many Rangers supporters are arguing for their team to be put down to the Third. It's as if they want to slough off the contamination of the old regime. That's pretty noble stuff.
