SO England going out in the quarter-finals was no curse at all
was it? It was a blessing in disguise.
Just think what might have happened if the Ashleys had not
missed their spot-kicks and we had somehow gone on to the final
instead of Italy.
Imagine our brave boys trying to cope with these Spanish
matadors in this flamboyant form.
For when a team as talented, tactical and technical as Italy are
blown away you know you are witnessing something extra special.
Make no mistake Cesare Prandelli’s side were the second best
team in the tournament and deserving finalists.
But they found being second best to Spain means you are a long,
long way behind.
So England are even further away in the distance.
And not even parking a double decker bus would have saved us
from an utter humiliation.
Certainly Roy Hodgson will have watched this and realised the
scale of his task ahead.
He might have enjoyed the spectacle but will he really relish
trying to topple the finest international side of a generation,
possibly of all time?
Yes he can continue to spin the positives that England did not
lose a match during Euro 2012 — only a penalty shootout.
That we will improve the more he works with the players and the
more he evolves the team into a younger, more technical, flexible
outfit.
All of it true. But the bigger truth is that, right now, Spain
are unassailable.
And the depressing thing for England, and every other nation, is
that there is no sign of that changing any time soon.
They have been on top for more than four years and are as hungry
and eager as ever.
Last night’s win over Italy sealed a record third successive
major international trophy following their 2008 European crown and
2010 World Cup.
And they became the first nation to successfully defend the
trophy in the competition’s 52-year history.
Best in the world? You better believe it!
Now you would not bet against them going on to Brazil in two
years and defending their world crown No team outside South America
has ever won the game’s greatest prize in that part of the
world.
But this Spain team, and more importantly this system, is not
just setting new records, it is setting new standards.
This is a way of playing the game that has taken years to
perfect but which could dominate for years.
Players may change but the style will not and the conveyor belt
of talent looks as rich as ever.
Left-back Jordi Alba is only 23 and has just scored his first
goal in international football looking like a striker.
He has also just joined Barca ahead of Manchester United — do
you blame him?
We claim the Premier League is the best in the world. It may be
in terms of excitement, drama, spectacle, passion, atmosphere and
strength in depth.
We might even try and garner some extra glory by saying Premier
stars David Silva, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata all scored and
ex-Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas got an assist in this 4-0 rout of
a fine Italy side.
And do not forget Mario Balotelli finished joint top scorer.
But none of that helps Hodgson create a best in the world
England team.
Look at the Spanish side. One Premier League player in the
starting line-up — Manchester City’s Silva.
Look at the Italian team. One Premier League player in the
starting line-up — Manchester City’s Balotelli.
Look at the Spanish squad. Where do the vast bulk of them play
their football? Spain.
Look at the Italian squad. Where do the vast bulk of them play
their football? Italy.
Both leagues that are not dominated by top foreign talent like
ours. And both nations benefit enormously from that — their best
players playing together for their best clubs.
Remember how Spanish heroes Gerard Pique, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro
Arbeloa and Fabregas, all played in the ‘greatest’ league in the
world and then turned their backs on it.
To go home to play for the two best teams in the world —
Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Most of them did well in the Premier League, all of them have
excelled away from it.
For in Spain, club and country are as one. There’s a common
belief the beautiful game should be played beautifully.
But it took immense bravery, unswerving faith and dogged
perseverance to create a classic new style. If we want to compete,
we must do the same. St George’s Park is a start, but only a
start.
One day it might be the answer, but watching this I don’t think
it’s going to be any time soon.
from the sun
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