Jordi Alba is almost as good at acting as Jessica Alba!
28/06/12 01:08
Footcall 2012 Day 17...
After a couple of days rest from Euro 2012 and Footcall VII, we're down to the first semi-final with just three games to go. First up we saw reigning champions Spain take on their next door neighbours, Portugal. It took me back to my childhood when I would take on me old mate and fellow Footcaller Nick D'Avanzo in a best of nineteen goals back when we were kids! Well maybe the patch of grass we played on in 1980 wasn't quite the top quality Rolawn the Euro semi-final was played on in Dontesk but I'm sure Nick will back me up here when I say there was more drama and excitement in our one-on-one kick-abouts than the first 90 minutes of tonight's match!
There was world class quality all over the pitch and it seemed as if all it amounted to was a stalemate :-( Portugal probably had the most talented player in Ronaldo with Mr Nani backing him up but Spain knew exactly how to deal with him and Del Bosque's gamble of playing a 4-6-0 formation with no strikers perhaps might have appeared to have been somewhat naive. Of course this legendary Spanish manager has forgotten more than I've learnt about the game, blimey, this is a man who managed the Galácticos in the golden season of 2003! His plan became evident soon into the first half, let the whippersnapper young Portuguese allowing the defensive supremos of the Spanish squad soak it all up, then bosh! Hit em on the break. This was the footballing equivalent of Ali's masterful Rope-a-Dope tactics against George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle '74.
Who could argue with this genius as it all seemed to go to plan and for the best part of 80 minutes Portugal were reduced to speculative shots from distance and it was the Spaniards who had the majority of the possession and probably the best opportunities on goal, was this all part their plan? This was all very well except Snr Bosque overlooked one thing, he didn't have any centre forwards who could put the ball in the back of the net. And with 87 minutes gone it was time for a substitution. Who was going to replace workhorse Xavi? He needed someone who had proven himself for his country, scored in this competition already (preferably blonde and overpaid) somebody with a bit of pace and an eye for goal in the Spanish colours. Well he looked up up and down the bench several times and then brought on... wait for it... Pedro! WTF?
And as the full time whistle blew it was indeed 0-0, sorry Simon another 3 points vanish into the Footcalling ether! Extra time loomed and we expected more of the same but hang on, someone put a rocket up the Spaniards backside and they were now taking control. Finally we were seeing a bit of down and dirty goalmouth action! It was the hero of World Cup 2010, or Footcall VI as I like to call it, Andres Iniesta who had the best chance of the match but he saw his goalbound shot wonderfully saved by Rui Patricio. The Jordi boy Alba worked his little legs (he must be half my height) tirelessly for the thick end of two solid hours, and although like many of those on the field he is world class at play acting when there is the slightest touch, he teamed up very well with subs Navas and Fabregas to create moderate havoc amongst the Portuguese defence, sort of like a disgruntled cow in a Poundsaver store!
So it was to be, just like the England match, this had penalties written all over it. Time for the managers to get their iPads out and compare the Angry Birds scores they'd achieved during the 120 minutes of play! First up was XaBi Alonso for Spain... Rui Patricio saved it! Blimey, what a start! Next up, Moutinho... another save, Casillas diving well! What is going on? Even the penalty kicks were gonna end goalless! Maybe those iPad high scores might come into it?
Next up was the ever reliable Iniesta... goal! Thank God! Pepe for Portugal, goal... 1-1. Steady on fellas, no need to go mad! Pique, goal. Then up strolled Bruno Alves, he placed the ball and assessed where he was gonna strike it. Suddenly Nani appeared like the shopkeeper in Mr Benn to say that Del Bosque had double checked his To Do app on his iPad and it was Nani's turn not Bruno Alves'. So a bemused BA retreated muttering something like "I pity the fool who thinks it's their penalty!" to leave Nani to stutter his run up and squeeze the ball into the roof of the net. Sergio Ramos stepped up to make it 3-2 to Spain before Bruno Alves had a sense of deja-vu walking up to the spot one more time! Had Nani's torpedo affected his concentration, we waited, he took three steps back and wallop! He hit the bar! This left Cesc Fabregas to take his chance from 12 yards and secure their place in the final. He appeared to chat to himself as he lined it up, maybe he had a bluetooth connection with Matt Le Tissier sitting in the crowd? He ran up and wallop! He hit the post! But unlike BA, CF's shot hit the inside of the woodwork and ran across the goal line and in! The Spaniards went mad and did a massive big British Bulldog pile up to leave Rui Patricio and his compatriots distraught once again! Who said you can't win with no strikers? Oh did I mention Ronaldo? No? Well he was Portugal's fifth penalty taker and he never got the chance! So sad, but he's done rather well for column inches off me wouldn't you agree?
And so to the Footcall league...
Maybe this was the big decisive game in the Footcall league. There are four points riding on the semi final results and the wrong choice could see things all change topside. Manoj nailed it and stayed top with Mr Firmston and the boy Ridley hanging around like Nani's shadow. Sadly however Matthew Green along with Chris & Nick who were obviously given some poor advice as they opted for Portugal and slip down the table. Oliver Whitfield is now in the prime money spots. Spain was a popular choice tonight so just a quick roundup of the state of play. You will see and the ominous appearance of Kevin Appleton into the top 30 which must scare the sh*t out of those around him! Jill Fuller collects a nice little four pointer tonight along with Spencer, Colin Jessop and Neil Larkin just to mention a few on page one. Maybe a Portuguese win would have shuffled the pack a little more and we'll have to see what the Germany Italy result brings us tomorrow.
Please can I remind those who have not done it yet, to cast your vote for your favourite Footcall team name of 2012 as we would like to give a small prize to the player who receives the most votes. Go to www.footcall.co.uk/feedback.html
Over and out!
Dj