Chile Throw España in the Works

Are We Seeing the Death of Tiki-Taka?

It's 5 past 12, and barely ninety minutes ago, reigning World and European champions Spain were knocked out of the World Cup after just two games. My mind hasn't come to terms with it yet, but I'm sure it will, given time. I, amongst many of my friends, am pleased to see the back of Spain and I'll tell you why.

For far too long now, Vicente del Bosque and his band of merry compadres have waltzed through competitions, laying waste in the most nonchalant of fashions to any lesser team who dared to have the temerity to challenge their superiority. Racking up thousands of passes a game, the Spain of 2010 would wait for their opponents to have a lapse in concentration before stringing together 3 or 4 perfectly placed one-touch passes, resulting in David Villa or Fernando Torres walking the ball into the back of the net.

Sure, in 2008, tiki-taka football at both Barcelona and Spain was great to watch. It was new, it was exciting. Like anything, though, after 6 years, it all becomes a bit same-old same-old. By the Euros two years ago, I was shouting at the screen as Spain tried and failed to find a way past the mighty John O'Shea for them to give it to Xabi Alonso to just "have a pop". Admittedly they eventually won 4-0, but still...variation is nice.

The only man I feel sorry for. Plus Xabi Alonso.

So 2014 rolls around. I finish my university exams, and become increasingly excited for the impending World Cup. No matter how hard I try, though, I can't help but get a feeling that I want Spain to fall flat on their faces. Having won so often, you could see the swagger in their step from space. Their demeanour was similar to that of Roger Federer at Wimbledon, when he came onto Centre Court wearing a blazer pre-empting his own victory.

The way Holland went through Spain like a hot knife through butter, exposing their questionable defence, was a joy to behold. One of my friends even tweeted "As a semi-professional despiser of Spain, this is porn to me.", and I find it hard to disagree. Ramos has never been the most disciplined centre-back, Pique isn't the player he was two or three years ago, and Jordi Alba is the Spanish Kyle Walker, using blazing speed to make up for defensive incapabilities. Seemingly, the only solid defensive muchacho is César "Dave" Azpilicueta.

"Yeah, ok Vicente. Good luck without me!"

Up front, Fernando Torres is the biggest joke on the internet since John Terry missed that penalty in Moscow. The thought of Torres getting into the squad ahead of Alvaro Negredo, and on the pitch ahead of David Villa, is upsetting. Sure, Negredo dropped off the second half of last season, but he's still more willing
to work for the team than Torres is, and he'll get physical with whoever he's up against, which is more than Diego Costa or Torres seem to do.



Tactically, del Bosque seems at a loss to explain what's been happening. Understandably, against Holland, damage limitation was the order of the day. However, against Chile, and 2-0 just before half time, you'd have thought that the Spaniard at the helm of the footballing armada would have sacrificed a defensive player for the sake of an attacking threat, but no. Here are the subs he made:
Alonso -> Koke
Costa -> Torres
Pedro -> Cazorla
I don't know about you, but they don't look like game changing substitutions. Not only that, but as the game wore on, so did Spain's boring tactics. Their willingness to take potshots and test the Chilean keeper never grew, and their insistence on a passing game that so clearly didn't work was embarrassing to watch. Del Boy should have thrown on an extra forward and started pumping the ball long against the CB pairing of Jara and Medel, neither of whom are taller than 5'9". But he didn't. And I, for one, am glad.

Adios Spain, and RIP tiki-taka, and good riddance!