Spain 0 Switzerland 1 : World Cup 2010 : Match 16

FIFA World Cup 2010 match 16 - Group H
Spain v Switzerland, 15th June - Durban

Spain : Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Pique, Capdevila, Busquets (Torres 61), Silva (Jesus Navas 61), Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta (Pedro 77), Villa.

Switzerland : Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Senderos (Von Bergen 35), Grichting, Ziegler, Barnetta (Eggiman 90), Inler, Huggel, Fernandes, Derdiyok (Yakin 79), Nkufo.

Match Report : Spain succombed in their first World Cup game of 2010 to what shall now become known as the Arsenal Syndrome.
( I don't know if I can copyright that, but I am claiming here that I said it first !)

What is the Arsenal Syndrome?
It's basically a team playing some lovely passing football, having about 90% possession of the football in a given match, having numerous chances on goal, yet still managing to lose against seemingly inferior opponents. (Normally Bolton Wanderers or the like...)

Spain were dominant from the off in this game.
Alonso, Iniesta, Villa ( I could name the whole team really, except Charlie Puyol) seeing lots of the ball - pinging cross field balls and raiding down the flanks - (Ramos was outstanding in this pursuit).
Chances, snapshots, passes and more possession.

As Bolton Wanderers know however, if you can hang on in there and stay solid and organised at the back (and your 'keeper has a good game), you will get the odd chance of your own.

Not that we should compare Switzerland to the Trotters however.

The Swiss were very well organised and always asking Arsenal, I mean Spain to make the extra pass, or to hold onto the ball a bit more. When Spain did get through on goal, Benaglio provided a formidable barrier in the Swiss goal.

And the Swiss did possess one or two threats of their own.
The pacy Nkufo up front was a handful and Barnetta and Ziegler were always looking to support the counter from their Full Back berths.

A slightly frustrated Spain probably went in at Half Time expecting the goal to come soon...

Half Time : Spain 0 Switzerland 0

Again Spain came out and immediately monopolised possession, but it was the Swiss that struck a decisive blow, with a direct attack, straight down the middle of the park.

Now, far be it from me to tell Der Kaiser how to play the game - but:
"Get stuffed Beckenbauer, there's more than one way score a goal in this game, and I'd suggest that if you're Bolton / Switzerland a good punt up the middle, to put your Fancy Dan Arsenal / Spanish player under a bit of good old fashioned direct pressure, is worth more than a lot of meaningless fannying around passing sideways for half an hour".

The good old punt up the middle, chased down by Nkufo & Derdiyok, exposed both Charlie Puyol & Gerry Pique to the point that Cassillas was called into action to try and intervene.
Fernandes just got there first ahead of Casillas' woeful feet first attempt, and to be fair, if the ball hadn't netted, Fernandes could have took a dive, won a penalty and had the 'keeper sent off as well.

Spain poured forward again, and Benaglio proved rock solid towards all that was thrown at him.

A fantastic strike from distance by Alonso did beat the Swiss 'keeper all ends up, but cannoned back off the bar. Close, but no cigar.

As Spain became more desperate, Switzerland looked more likely to spring a counter and Derdiyok provided a moment of true class as he skipped around defenders almost Gemillesque to send his shot off the post.

You could not say the Swiss did not deserve their win.
Yes, you could feel sorry for Spain at playing so well and not getting anything from the game, but if you're Switzerland / Bolton what do you do?
Stand aside and applaud at the fantastic technical skills in front of you?

Or do you play to the best of your own abilities, and attack the opposition's weakness - if you get the chance?

This is the World Cup.
Any win is a good one.

Spain : Casillas 4 Sergio Ramos 8 Puyol 5 Pique 6 Capdevila 6 Busquets 6(Torres 4), Silva 7(Jesus Navas 8), Alonso 7, Xavi 7, Iniesta 7(Pedro 5), Villa 7.

Switzerland : Benaglio 9, Lichtsteiner 8, Senderos 5 (Von Bergen 7),Grichting 7, Ziegler 7, Barnetta 8 (Eggiman 5), Inler 5, Huggel 6,Fernandes 5, Derdiyok 7 (Yakin 5), Nkufo 6.

Goals: Fernandes 52.

Att: 62,453

Referee: Howard Webb (England) 6.
Not too much wrong from the Lee Carsley lookalike. But not tooo outstandingly brillient either.

Good : Derdiyok's maze up. Absolute class.

Bad : Has Torres gone all Samson on it?The haircut seems to have sapped his abilities.

Ugly : The Spanish getting all stroppy leaving the pitch. Grow up girls.

Full Time : Spain 0 Switzerland 1