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Mustapha Kamaruddin
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Tuesday, 03 July 2012 17:03 |
 HOLA!
Historico!
Historico Tricampeones!
Tricampeones!
These were the headlines screaming over the front pages of some of Spanish main newspapers after their national football team won Euro 2012 in style by crushing Italy 4-0 in Kiev on Sunday.
 No need to translate the meaning of these headlines as they are quite obvious.
This success in Ukraine and Poland means the Spaniards, under veteran coach Vicente del Bosque, became the first to have won three major titles in a row. They had earlier won Euro 2008 and 2010 Word Cup.
This is a stunning feat and it will be pretty hard to emulate in the near future. On the contrary, at the rate things are going, Spain may even amazingly make it four-in-a-row by winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as well.
Se even say, they are team of the century, better than the Brazil teams of 1958 and 1970.
Scary.
Back to Euro 2012.
El Loco, to be honest, did not expect Spain to have easily brushed aside impressive Italy in the final.
The Italians, on their route to the final, stunned favorites Germany 2-1 and looked capable of matching the Spaniards. Furthermore, del Bosque's men had not been convincing on the way to the final.
Thus many, including El Loco, said it was going to be a close contest which might go to penalty shootout. '
El Loco even told who asked that Italy had the edge! Wrong this time, so has to say sorry.
What else to do?
 Yes. Spain left their best for the final and virtually sealed the title by halftime after taking a comfortable 2-0 win with goals by David Silva and Jordi Alba (left), of all people.
That was leftback Alba's first goal for Spain from 11 appearances since making his debut last year and it was spectacular one.
It was surely a month to remember for the 23-year-old, who was born in L'Hospitalet. .
After sealing a €14 million move to Barcelona while helping Spain to the Euro 2012 final, he capped off a superb major international tournament debut by scoring this goal.
Alba came into the competition as a long-term replacement for Joan Capdevila at leftback after an impressive 2011-2012 season with Valencia, and immediately became an overnight sensation in Poland and Ukraine.
His strong defensive qualities, marauding runs down the left flank and intelligent passes proved to be indispensable assets for Spain at Euro 2012.
Alba, who stands at 5ft 7in, started his youth career at Barca from 1998 to 2005. Then he joined Cornelia before going to Valencia.
He started his senior career in 2008 at Valencia, of course, but was sent on loan to Gimnastic. Then the inevitable return to Nou Camp.
El Loco can't wait to see Alba in action for Barca in the new season.
Back to Euro 2012.
Prior to Spain's conquest of Europe, yet again, some were saying that La Roja were boring! They were just passing the ball around and did not have much penetration and creating chances.
Boring? El Loco did not agree with this.
Most of the time, they were producing their normal artistry display where other teams could only appreciate. Then it was surely difficult they were up against teams who defended, defended and defended (actually, boring already to type the word defended).
And England? Were they entertaining? Remember how they played against France and Italy?
Those who said Spain were boring must be envious of the Spaniards' sexy style of passing and possession which also produced results.
Even renowned pundits and former coaches like Terry Venables did not agree that Spain were boring.
He said England young internationals are being schooled in how to keep possession in his column published by The Sun.
"Our senior ones already know how to," he said.
"We must develop a system that allows them to do so. Possession is nine-tenths of winning at international level, as Spain have showed.
"I am astonished they have been labeled “boring” at Euro 2012. Their tiki-taka style is far from dull.
"They remind me a lot of Muhammad Ali. He just used to keep punching and jabbing opponents, who could not get near him to land a KO blow.
"He had so much class he would wear his opponents down. That is how Spain are.
"England have players and a culture capable of keeping the ball similarly. It just needs to be nurtured," said Venebles.
Well…
Oh yes... 10 Spain players have been included in Uefa's squad of 23 from Euro 2012 while midfielder Andres Iniesta was also named as best player.
What else to say?
First 11?
Don't ask El Loco to pick as three- quarter of the team would be Spaniards.
Adios!
- mD
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