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The problem is not the Barcelona tiki-taka (which usually ends in constant attack and goals as well as the classic ~70% ball possession), it's another thing that comes when this system is used mechanically without any further idea to end the move. It's been a damn problem this Euro Cup, which I agree, has made the games slow and boring. I'd blame the overpresence of midfield players (in the game against Croatia there was a time that the team had 6-7 players in that place, which was quite sick). That is, the team can stay for three minutes passing the ball, the problem comes when after these three minutes they haven't even got close to the rival's goal, which has been happening way too many times this Euro Cup.

I bet you miss Villa a lot.

Even though I see you're from Spain I'll say it: you have too many divers out there. It's not the country's you play against fault that the game is boring. It's totally because of that passing non-sense. I hate England for always parking the bus and I hate Spain for tiki taka as well. It's not entertaining at all. Ye, results is what counts but still football was initially a game made to entertain the public. I'd love to see worse defending and more goals rather than tiki taka. I'd love to see players dribbling the whole defence and scoring : not passing the whole game from a side to other. I'd love to see failed passes and counter attacking runs and some goalkeeping action rather than midfielder players playing their own abstract tiki taka game.

Why can't Spain take example from Germany or Italy or Portugal?

I like the tiki-taka style, provided they actually have good strikers to finish the job with (Messi/Villa for Barca, Villa/Torres for the last 2 international cups). It's quite silly to see a full front field of midfielders without a striker or that random decision of letting Negredo on when he was a ghost for the first 55 minutes or so. Commentators also keep mentioning how it's kind of redundant to have Busquets, Xabi Alonso, and Xavi at the same time since they do similar roles. Give some offensive midfielders at least, anything really, even Pedro was looking more effective than Busquets.

Oi, that Busquets guy
I never, NEVER
understood why he is in Barca and plays for Spain squad
based on what motherfucking skills? diving? I seriously don't see him as a good player, not at very least.
He hasn't got speed, hasn't got ball control, hasn't got good passing skills, hasn't got body fitness, he's got diving - that's it.
Hey, any Spanish guy out there - tell me, just tell me what's the thing about Busquets? I think it's more than obvious that he's a diving faggot and that's all about him.

Villa is not the question here. When there's not Villa you have Pedro or Cesc who are more or less covering his role. The problem is that most of the Spanish moves end in the mid field and they don't get to worry the rival.


I'll give you some data from the lovely Wikipedia. Since Guardiola and the famous tiki-taka style was established in Barcelona:
105 goals in 2008/2009.
98 goals in 2009/2010.
95 goals in 2010/2011.
114 goals in 2011/2012.

And that in the Spanish Liga alone. So, how is the story that the tiki-taka doesn't bring goals?

You seem to have missed the part where I criticized the game of Spain -forget I'm from that country, I'm not that chauvinistic- and not because of the choice of game, but the lack of ideas that applied to tiki-taka end up in a loop of passes around the mid field. The problem is not that the team makes the ball circulate and elaborates the move (didn't Italy do the same at some parts of its match yesterday?), but that the game is and has probably never been that slow and lacking ideas to finish.

On this thing. You don't find elaboration of the moves entertaining, I don't find relying on counterattacks and sporadic individualities entertaining. To each one I guess.



Probably because if it did the team would not have reached the finals. Even if it's not really doing the things well, it is still better in that style of game than any other style. For the same reason maybe Germany wouldn't have reached the semifinals by trying tiki-taka.


He passes, distributes the ball well, participates in both defense and attack and does it well in both, I can't say I understand why do you focus on Busquets and not on Arbeloa (and his absolute lack of talent at dribbling) or Xavi (who, as being the pillar of the team for years, is also the main reason behind its general slowness this year).

Mod Edit: Added spoiler because of the huge file size.

Hahaha, love it.

Edit: Also: In recent news, Portugal's plane left before Ronaldo could board.

"Maybe he shouldn't have tried to get on the plane last." - some guy

Yeah, apparently the arrogant prick wasn't even with his team:http://www.sfgate.com/sports/jenkins/article/Cristiano-Ronaldo-renders-himself-an-afterthought-3672179.php

Poor captain, the word: responsibility might want to get hammered in his head, oh wait, that'll ruin his hair.


Article for people too lazy too search: http://www.zimbio.com/Cristiano+Ronaldo/news/ZtIITomlmJj/Future+News+Portugal+plane+leaves+before+Cristiano

I just read it was a hoax

Yeah, figured so, would be a bit too coincidental, plus there is no way they are just going to leave without a player.

Would have been hilarious.

Cant wait to see the final match. Hope Italy wins.

I found betting agencies giving Italy 3.50 for the win so i went and bet 30 euro on them. I get over a 100 if i win. Hope i won't regret it.

There is a good chance. Seeing their poor play against Portugal, no goals, Italy has a good chance of winning.

I think it's gonna be a draw again.

I've been following the entire tournament, I'm very disappointed that Italy beat Germany. I personally believe Germany is a better team + Balotelli has a seriously bad attitude. Spain getting through is no surprise but I'm not happy about that either, it's boring - no variety, if you get what I mean. I don't really care which team wins.

The problem with this is what constitutes "the better team"? How they did in the group stage? Their world ranking? Their record in the last few years? Their ability to compete despite the highest amounts of pressure (a test which this German side has failed on several occasions)?

For better or for worse, we decide which is the better team based on one match and Germany got both outplayed and outclassed. They never looked like they really wanted it (I saw players completely give up and start walking near the end, that was just embarrassing), and they got what they deserved for taking Italy lightly.

Side note: If there is one man who can match Balotelli's arrogance, it's Neuer.

Get loads of this guy. He's got his shit together

The final looks like it's going to be a match with tight defence and no goals.. going for a 0-0 and then ET winner for Spain

If this will happen, I'll get mad. Every single match of Spain so far was hard to sit through because it was so boring. Italy at least has some quick and aggressive plays. Completely cheering for Italy, although I'll cheer for any team if its up against Spain. World Cup 2010 grr.

Same problem, the final won't be interesting to me in that constellation.

While I don't dislike Balotelli, there are other players in the Italian team I can't bring myself to root for. Like Cassano, who said he hopes there are no gays in the team - at a press conference. Or extreme right-wingers like De Rossi, who don't even keep it a secret they admire Mussolini.

And Spain just doesn't play attractive football.



Do you mean because he acted as an outfield player towards the end of the semi-final? That was actually the most logical thing to do in that situation. Germany absolutely needed to score, on the other hand it wouldn't have made the least bit of a difference for them if Italy would have scored one more, so why guard the goal?