They came, they saw, they conquered...

Despite the hype (which I began) regarding the South American dominance of the earlier knockout stages in SA 2010 it was their original ancestral counterparts who passed, defended and shot their way to victory as the Spanish took over Johannesburg with a fine Andres Iniesta strike in the dying minutes of extra time. Spain were worthy winners and have become the second side in history after France to have won the European Championships and World Cup in successive years. It was the same story in so far as their defence led by Carles Puyol remained solid conceding but two goals in their 7 game campaign, their hotshot striker David Villa emerged as one of the leading scorers again and their midfield miracle of Iniesta and Xavi proved again to be the most potent threat in world football. To think that Puyol, Pique, Xavi, and Iniesta have since 2008 won a European Championship, a Champions League, 2 Spanish titles and now the World Cup is quite remarkable. How is adding Villa to that particular equation fair?

On the topic of fairness there has been and will be much talk of Howard Webb's performance. To be honest and controversial, the man didn't do a great deal wrong. Whilst Holland's smash mouth style in the first half left little to be desired the tackling was in the majority late, clumsy and reckless as opposed to dangerous, synical or dirty. Van Bommel could certainly have gone for a second yellow well before Heitinga eventually did but let me raise a familiar point to this little blog of mine. What do the so called experts of Premier League Football say every week about Howard's decisions on such challenges every on Match of the Day or Sky Sports when they are commited by players at big clubs such as De Jong (Man City) and Heitinga (Everton)? It certainly isn't "he should be sent off Martin" when a top four player kicks one of the Steven Fletcher's of this world in the head whilst attempting to fish the ball out of a satelite orbit. Quite the contrary in face. Its passionate, desire-ridden, gutsy, brave and a tad clumsy, merely accidental, just a warning - good decision referee. So let's not all jump on our high horses and condem an exciting counter attacking side with some great and tenacious attacking players for a few rough tackles on the best midfield I've seen since Madrid's Galacticos in 2003.  Holland were second best to a worthy champion and Webb did exactly what he was praised highly for by pundits for doing in the League Cup final be allowing Nemanja Vidic's professional foul of Gabi Agbonlahor to be punished only by a penalty kick - not ruining the game / using the rules. Whatever the weather and whatever your opinion some consistency in feedback would be just lovely thank you Mr. BBC.

So are Spain 2008-10 as good as France 1998-2000? That's a bit of a non brainer I guess. Their goalkeepers less temporamental yet less of an enigma that Mr. Barthez. Whilst Puyol and Pique looks a far cry from Blanc and Desailly they conceded the same amount of World Cup goals and neither are set to retire anytime soon. However on the flipside of the coin were they to retire through injury or turn rubbish overnight - Spain don't have Lilian Thuram to step into their big boots although Raul Albiol has indeed enjoyed a decent year with Madrid and is learning his trade at the Bernebau quickly.
The midfield maestro of Xavi and Iniesta backed up by Alonso and Busquets is so dissimilar to France's engine room of Vieira and Petit really its untrue. The impeccable Zidane of course was the Golden Boy of the FFF and whether Xavi is quite capable of that greatness is up for debate. I'm very biased towards Zizu - to me the man's God and Xavi might just be one of his many angels. Either way their both cracking players.

The youth of Pedro on the wing reminds me starkly of a young Robert Pires in some fairly subtle ways despite their physcial and stylistic contrast. Robert was a deceitfully physcial player who was by no means afraid to get stuck in and Pedro is like a bulldog when he's not in possession of the ball himself. What Spain do have over France veterans is a hotshot striker with consistency in David Villa - a title which internationally can't be given to the great French club marksmen of this period: Henry, Trezeguet and Anelka.
For me Spain have the potential to win another Euro title in 2012 and surpass this generation of French dynasty rather than crash out of their next major tournament as France did in 2002. Although with youth still just about on their side this may make them a little better - I will stand by my previous posts rather than jump on the Iniesta bandwagon. Whatever happens differently to the French 2002 campain for Spain in 2012 - not one of this side will be carrying them to a final off his own back 8 years 6 years later in 2016 in a tiring encore for the nations last surge of greatness. Xavi and Iniesta are the best midfield pair in the world today and could dominate for a few more years to come. But whilst in 2006 Zidane was vintage, I fear that Xavi may well be an antique. Whilst Iniesta is his natural sidekick, Fabregas is his natural understudy. However there is a clear reluctance to break away from the Madrid-Barca dominance in the Spanish selection process which is of course understandable. Villa the only real exception other than Capedevilla with Torres, Silva and Cesc all playing little football this time around it may well be necessary for Wenger's prodigy to return to Catalonia should he ever want the chance to prove his genius on a national stage. From what I saw of the lad this season live from the Molineux - he still isn't Zidane, but he's got the talent to be his own player, his own man, play for his own team and maybe, just maybe, win his own World Cup.

Don't go Diego.

As an Englishman and a cold blooded football fan I will never forgive Diego Armando Maradona for his blatant trespass of the rules of the game against England in 1986. We're not guilty of complete twisted bitterness about it - after all most people in this country are happy to admit that his second goal that day was the best of all time and tangible evidence that he was the best in the world and probably the best ever seen. So whatever your feelings towards Diego its safe to say that many would agree that the man has been a breath of fresh air in the dull breeze of South Africa 2010. Whether he's snogging his players whilst celebrating a goal or making the sign of the cross 8 times after every kick there's a fire still about Maradona and we should consider why that is, and could it possibly lead to him actually becoming a top manager?

Not only was Diego possibly the greatest player to have lived but he might well just owe more to the game he's dedicated his life to that any other to play it as well. Gary Lineker commented on a 'Dream Team' video before France '98 that Diego's career was 'as if the Gods were toying with him' and I think that's a great summary of his life. The so called 'hand of God' came at the pinnacle of Maradona's career as he had led what many perceive to be a fairly mediocre Argentina side to World Cup victory. He was currently playing for Napoli where he had somewhat perfected the art of single handedly winning titles with average team mates having racked up a couple of cups with Barcelona a few years before in 1983. At this time Maradona was amazing. Despite the addiction to cocaine he had developed at Barca his powerful dribbling ability and magical ball control set the world alight - not to mention his lethal left foot. Diego was only ever happy when he was playing. Some players see football as a job but for Maradona it was his career, social life and home all rolled into one. For the Argentine genius the most difficult job of all was dealing with life outside of football which he has never ever managed to do.

I can't help but think that having Maradona around the likes of Lionel Messi can only be a good thing. The 22 year old wonderkid has been compared to the man so many times that its nice to see a close relationship has ensued and Maradona has relished the opportunity to nurture his protege. He advised Messi to find ways of handling what he described as 'loneliness' off the pitch which is a remarkable word for one to use who can not escape the limelight no matter how hard he tries. Its as if off the pitch Maradona acknowledges no true friendship but on it he sees his team mates as a family which is quite extraordinary.

After repeating the feat of carrying his side to the final in 1990 except this time losing out to West Germany in the final Maradona began to fade. He left for Sevilla in '91 where his drug and depression issues began to reach new heights prompting a return to Argentina first to Newell's Old Boys and eventually his beloved Boca Juniors. Due to a 15 month ban after the 1990 World Cup and a whole host of personal problems Diego had barely played football by the time the 1994 World Cup came around in the USA but at the age of 34 his reputation gained him a place in the squad which he repaid famously with a fantastic strike against Greece before the infamous 'eye popping' celebration which was later confirmed to be a result of ephedrine doping meaning a heartbroken Maradona was sent home after only 2 games.

Until 2007 Maradona was a wreck. His former team mate Jorge Valdano descibed his life as 'a personal ordeal which should not be imitated' hence Diego's plea to Messi not to let his rise to stardom and inevitable strain on his personal life affect his mental well being. Being made Argentina manager in December 2008 has rejuventated Maradona. His acceptance back into the fold of football if you will has galvanised his charisma and personality turning the show of his life once again into a comedy thriller rather than a romantic tragedy. His relationship with his players and passion for the game is almost that of a fan being given the chance to run his beloved team - leading us to forget sometimes who the fat dwarf waddling up and down the touchline occasionally skilfully flicking the ball into someones hands really is. Given his religious routes Maradona probably does believe that he's become God's toy. I think I believe it to. Blessed with a talent which has allowed him to be revered by all who have ever seen him play - and cursed with a disposition and dependence on the game he has changed forever that will mean football is the life and death of him.

So for his own sake I hope he keeps his job and achieves the success he once again strives in some way with Argentina. Next year's Copa America would be great I don't want the little bastard ruining another World Cup for England in 2014 we're perfectly capable of messing it up ourselves thanks Diego. But in all seriousness as long as Maradona gets his football fix he might just be okay. As soon as its taken away I fear probably the greatest footballer and definitely the biggest football fanatic ever to have lived will once again run into personal problems. However when all is said and done he will still pick Jonas Guttierez, so I do fear slightly for his role as an international coach!

The Boys in Orange come good

I'd first of all like to tender an apology to Bert Marwijk and his band of merry men for not even laying into them during my blog on 'A Continental Revolution', which I would also like to point out was definitely plagarised by our very own BBC who have all of a sudden a fortnight after my blog decided 2010 is all about South American sides. Well, sorry BBC but you're a little late because that ground has already been covered - although on-cue 3/6 of the South American aces are out including Brazil. Despite my call of Paraguay being god awful the others were correct!

Now to Holland, as if they haven't received too little attention in this blog already as it is. During the third group game I commented that Wesley Sneijder, driving force of Inter Milan's surge to the European Cup title this season had been the best player in the tournament so far this year. I still stand by this particularly after his most instrumental role in a gutsy win over Brazil who in all honesty have paid the price for their negative tactics. Sneijder's tantalising left foot delivery found a weakness in Brazil's until now impregnable defence named Felipe Melo who was later sent off for a stamp on Arjen Robben, and the same Sneijder struck the final blow with an instictive header after some untypically poor defending from a set piece.

The Netherlands in so many ways are similar to the Argentinians in as much as their side breaks down as a fairly worrying defence, a solid midfield and a lethal attack. With this comparison in mind you do unfortunately although I don't necessarily like to do so have to compare the two linchpins of these sides - Messi and Sneijder. Thankfully the total contrast in styles mean we can have fun picking apart just how different these two sides really are. Sneijder's injury problems, typical of Holland's side taking into consideration the likes of Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie mean he has a deceitful experience having played 66 times for his country and played for Ajax, Real and Inter throughout an already impressive career. This shines through in his play with his simple ball every time attitude only being overridden by his abilty to pull of incredible passes which act as the stem for many of the Dutch counter attacks - finding the pace of van Persie, Robben and Kuyt in attack.
Messi marks the Argentinian contrast of raw talent and sheer passion. Whilst the Dutch are unquestionably determined as marked by Nigel de Jong's overdue suspension for the semi final and Mark van Bommel only being allowed to play due to some incompetent Japanse refereeing - Messi sums his side up. A nation being led by a cult hero, a defence reliant on last ditch tackles and mindless thuggery, an attack formed around the dogged running of Tevez / Aguero and the cool as ice instincts of Gonzalo Higuain / Diego Milto. Amidst the masquerade one man stands alone. A 23 year old kid reared from the age of 11 to overcome growth hormone deficiency and become the best player in the world, who still appears to play every game like the best player on the playground trying to impress the girl of his dreams.
I haven't turned my back on myself yet though. Uruguay have a strong chance despite the loss of Luis Suarez, a man who would have struck fear into the hearts of Holland's unimpressive defence after his 50 goal season in the Eredivise. Diego Forlan has every much of an impace as either Messi or Sneijder for Holland and the man appears to just come up with the goods when called upon - something that Messi and Sneijder in all fairness can both do themselves.
For me Spain's chemistry may let them down.. No one player appears to be forming the bedrock of the Spanish side and David Villa may lose out due to this lack of constant service from a genius behind him. Even Germany's strikers are being blessed with the assistance of a Turkish-German with all the invention of Yildiray Basturk and the dynamic intention of Anders Moller. Mesut Ozil has taken the World Cup by storm at the age of 21 but lacks the physical presence of any of the above mentioned. I fear as a playmaker he also lacks the unique selling points of Forlan's  clinical set piece taking, Sneijder's bullish yet ingenious creativity and Messi's sheer ability to seeminly be able to unlock whatever he wants whenever he wants. I've discounted Paraguay again haven't I? Well I'm sticking to my guns they've had a good run but a lucky one and Spain will beat them - but the winner will face Germany or Argentina.

Predictions assuming Spain do beat Paraguay.

Quarter Final

Germany v Argentina -- Tense affair which may favour the Germans at first but as the game opens up and mistakes creep in Messi will influence the game more and more. However well Schweinstieger has done from his holding role the man cannot and will not stop the Catalonian wonderkid.

Semi Finals

Holland v Uruguay -- A deceiftully tense affair which will explode into extra time. Sneijder will struggle to shake off the attention of Perez and Pereira whilst Uruguay will pose less threat without the pace of Suarez. In extra time Uruguay owe their precious Catholic God a favour or two after their victory over Ghana. Its going to be a scrappy but deserved winner for the Dutch before penalties.

Spain v Argentina

Messi will come face to face with his Barcelona team mates particularly the defenders he must torment day in day out in training. Its an opportunity for Barca's Spanish spine to prove to the world that they could survive without Messi. Its Messi's opportunity to prove that he is Mr. Barcelona and that it is time for Xavi and Puyol to bow to his talent like the 90,000 Camp Nou faithful. I think the occasion may catch the young man out and teamwork will prevail over individuality despite all I've said. Spain to win through control of the midfield, an off day for Messi and a mismatch of Villa / Torres vs Argentina's hazy defence.