Spain Football

Leo Messi suffered an ankle sprain on a rough tackle by Atlético de Madrid’s Ujfalusi, who was red-carded for his aggressive action. The injury is not considered serious and Ujfalusi has apologized to Messi. The Barcelona forward may miss 10 to 14 days, if that.

Though Ujfalusi’s tackle of Messi is garnering the most media attention, the more noteworthy development for Spain football fans, other than Barcelona’s win 2-1 road win over Atlético, was the spectacular play in goal by young David De Gea, who is destined to follow in Iker Casilla’s footsteps as Spain’s national goalie for many years to come.

De Gea is a phenomenal young goalie, with tremendous reflexes and instincts. La Roja will be in good hands when Casillas passes the torch to De Gea in the future.

Other matches of note include Real Madrid’s 2-1 road win at Real Sociedad, and Valencia’s win at Hércules by the same 2-1 score. Remember that it was Hércules that shocked La Liga with their 0-2 victory ar Barcelona last week. Valencia has played very well, having won all three of their matches. They stand atop La Liga by themselves with 9 points.

La Liga – Week 3 Results:

Espanyol 1 Almería 0
Mallorca 2 Osasuna 0
Sporting 2 Athletic 2
R. Sociedad 1 Real Madrid 2
Hércules 1 Valencia 2
Racing 2 Zaragoza 0
Levante 1 Villarreal 2
Atlético 1 Barcelona 2
Málaga 1 Sevilla 2
Deportivo 2 Getafe 2

La Liga – Week 3 Standings:

FC Barcelona  0 – 2  Hércules

Unheralded Hércules, one of three teams elevated to La Liga’s premier division this season from Division 2, shocked the football world by beating FC Barcelona 0-2 on their home turf.

What makes this such a remarkable story is that defending Liga champions, Barcelona, had not lost at the Camp Nou, since May 2009!

Hércules manager, Esteban Vigo, was rewarded for the faith he placed in his team. Those who heard him predict his players would beat mighty Barcelona in front of the catalan fans, thought him a fool. But two goals by the Paraguayan, Valdez, in minutes 26 and 58, proved Vigo prophetic.

Real Madrid  1 – 0  Osasuna

Real Madrid defender, Carvalho, scored just after intermission in the 48th minute to give his team a lackluster victory at home against Osasuna. Real fans were expecting a more forceful display of football by the home team, and were not happy with the narrowest margin of victory over a less skilled opponent.

The fan reaction prompted Real’s Ronaldo to petition the fans to turn their energetic expressions of disappointment into shouts of encouragement. Presumably because this will help Real Madrid’s players play better?

Villareal  4 – 0 Espanyol

Villareal was impressive in its destruction of Espanyol 4-0. The acquisition of the madrileño, Borja Valero, in midfield has helped Villareal become more dynamic and dangerous.

Borja may be the missing link to propel Villareal to a special season as he joins Santi Cazorla (2008 European Cup champion with La Roja), Rossi (native of New Jersey in the USA) and the Brazilian, Nilmar. Rossi scored twice. Borja and Nilmar also scored for Villareal.

The results for the second week of La Liga (home teams listed first):

Almería 2 – 2 R. Sociedad
Sevilla 0 – 0- Deportivo
Villarreal 4 – 0 Espanyol
Sporting 2 – 0 Mallorca
Getafe 4 – 1 Levante
Zaragoza 3 – 5 Málaga
Athletic -1 -2 Atlético
Barcelona 0 – 2 Hércules
Valencia 1 – 0 Racing
R. Madrid 1 – 0 Osasuna

Vicente del Bosque, manager of defending world champion Spain, opted for a literally “friendly” match against host Argentina, sprinkling his starting lineup with numerous back-up players. Spain understands that the pride of entire nations hangs on beating the World Champs. In fact, there are no “friendly” matches for champions.

La Roja’s defense was unrecognizable with Pepe Reina (for Casillas) in goal and Arbeloa, Piqué, Marchena y Monreal lining up on defense for Capdevila, Piqué, Puyol, and Ramos.

The lack of intensity on the part of Spain, and the Argentines desperately seeking some degree of redemption before their home crowd after their devastating 4-0 loss to Germany in the 2010 World Cup combined to produce two goals (Messi and e Higuaín) in the first 13 minutes of play for Argentina. The tone of the match was set from the outset.

Reina was not sharp in goal and slipped while trying to stop Argentina’s third score in the first half, compliments of Tévez. Fernando Llorente scored for Spain in the second half, but Kun Agüero got it back to make the final 4-1. Three shots off the post by Spain was a clear indicator that it was not their day.

A team that had allowed just two goals in the entire World Cup tournament, had allowed two in 13 minutes. Given the circumstances, it is not hard to understand the result. Argentina is a strong team under a new manager, Batista, wanting desperately to shine before their home crowd.

Ironically, periodic moments of embarrassment have fueled Spain over the last few years. Losses to the USA (2009 Confederations Cup) and Switzerland (first match in 2010 World Cup) have spurred Spain to the mountaintop of world football.

The suspicion here is that this experience will serve La Roja well as they work their way through the Euro 2012 qualifying matches in their quest to repeat as European Champions.

Sergio Canales Sends Spain Under-21 to Euro Playoffs!

A tense match for the Spain Under-21 team against Poland was resolved on a goal in the 85th minute by Sergio Canales (Real Madrid). Canales recovered the ball off a free kick over the Polish barrier by Thiago (FC Barcelona) and slammed it into the Polish net.

The Polish Under-21 team, having already been eliminated from participating in next summer’s Under-21 European Cup tournament, played a conservative, defensive brand of football, as so many nations do against Spain at virtually all levels of international play.

A tie or loss would have virtually guaranteed elimination for Spain. The victory, however, places Spain in the round of 14 playoffs, as one of the four best second place teams in the groups. The playoff matchups will be decided this coming Friday, and will be played on a home and away basis on 9 and 13 October 2010. The seven survivors will then join host Denmark for the final of the 2011 Under-21 European Cup next June.

Of special significance, and why Canales’s goal was so critical, is that only teams playing in the Under-21 European Cup will be eligible to play in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Spain football fans are thrilled to see the successful return of striker Fernando Torres to his old form as his two goals led Spain to a comfortable 4-0 road win over Liechtenstein in Vaduz, their first 2012 European Cup qualifying match.

Torres, who was just coming off knee surgery during the 2010 World Cup tournament, showed the characteristic explosiveness, timing and touch that eluded him in the South Africa tournament. Those who thought Fernando Torres would no longer be a factor for Spain will have to reconsider. Torres’s second goal tied Emilio Butragueño for fifth on the all time list of goal scorers for La Roja.

The defending World Cup and European Cup champions also enjoyed goals by David Villa (now with FC Barcelona) and David Silva (now with Manchester City). Villa missed an opportunity to score a second goal in the final minute that would have tied him with Raul for most career goals scored while wearing the national colors of La Roja. He has 43, and counting.

Villa assured Spain football fans that there is no rush; the goal will come, and many more, as the 28 year old hopes to play for La Roja for many years to come.

Villa’s confidence is indicative of a national team that is at the height of its powers, ruling the world of international football, and seeming incapable of being defeated by anyone on the planet.

La Selección’s next stop is Buenos Aires, where they will play a friendly match against Argentina in preparation for their second European Group I qualifying match, 8 October, at home against Lithuania.

The celebration of Atlético de Madrid’s  fabulous win over Inter Milan in the final of the European Supercup just days ago spilled over to the first week of La Liga.   Atlético destroyed Sporting Gijón in the league play debut of both teams, 4-0. Diego Forlan, who played so brilliantly for Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup, continued his world class play scoring twice for Atlético.

Messi, Iniesta, and Villa scored goals for FC Barcelona in their routine win over Racing Santander, 3-0.  Real Madrid was forced to settle for a 0-0 draw on the road at Mallorca. Manager Mourinho lamented the missed goal-scoring opportunities, particularly in the second half, but praised his players’ effort. To make matters worse, Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a right ankle injury and will be out of commission two to three weeks.

Atlético 4-0 Sporting

Hércules 0-1 Athletic

Málaga 1-3 Valencia

Levante 1-4 Sevilla

Deportivo 0-0 Zaragoza

Espanyol 3-1 Getafe

R. Sociedad 1-0 Villarreal

Osasuna 0-0 Almería

Racing 0-3 Barcelona

Mallorca 0-0 Real Madrid

Atlético de Madrid defeats Inter Milan to Win European Supercup!

Atlético de Madrid, winners of the last Europa League Cup, defeated Inter Milan, winners of the last European Champions Cup, in convincing fashion, 2-0, to win the European Supercup in Monaco.

One-time Spanish national team player, Reyes, scored to put Atlético ahead. The Argentine, Kun  Agüero, scored the second goal for the Spanish side, putting Inter in a hole from which they could not emerge.

Atlético’s young goalie, and one of the bright rising Spanish stars, David de Gea, did his Iker Casillas imitation, stopping a penalty shot by the Italian team.

FC Barcelona were fortunate to draw relatively modest opponents in their upcoming Champions League group: Rubin Kazan, Copenhague and Panathinaikos. They will be the odds-on favorites to win the group, though they could only draw 0-0 on the road last season against Rubin Kazan and lost to the Russian team at the Camp Nou.

Real Madrid did not fare so well, drawing traditional powers Ajax, Milan, and Auxerre.

Real, under new coach José Mourinho, will be looking for its first European trophy in eight seasons, the top club team championship in Europe. They will repeat last season’s home and away matches with Milan. Real owns nine European titles to Milan’s seven. Ajax boast four titles, but holds the most recent of any of the title winners in the group, that coming in 1995.

The third Spanish team to qualify for the Champions League, Valencia will also find themselves in a difficult group with  Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United, Glasgow Rangers, and Turkish newcomer, Bursaspor, carrying the lowest coefficient of any of the 32 teams in the tournament of Champions.  Valencia, having lost both David Villa (Barcelona) and David Silva (Manchester City), largely because of financial woes, will be returning to the Champions  League after a two-year absence.

Inter Milan, the defending champion, finds itself in a tough group of their own, with offensive powerhouse Werder Bremen, Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane’s Tottenham, and Dutch League champion, Twente.

Europa League: Sevilla, Atlético de Madrid, Getafe and Villarreal

Tough draws for Sevilla and Atlético de Madrid. Not so bad for Getafe and Villarreal.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the next round. Here are the four Spain Liga club teams that will compete in the Europa League this season, followed by their group opponents:

Group B: Atlético de Madrid, Rosenborg, Bayer Leverkusen, and Aris Tesalónica.

Group D: Villareal, Dínamo Zagreb, Brujas, and PAOK.

Group H: Getafe, Stuttgart, BSC Young Boys, and Odense.

Group J: Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, PSG, and FC Karpaty Lviv.

FC Barcelona bounced back from their 3-1 away loss to Sevilla in the Pizjuán stadium just a week ago to win the Spain Supercup in Barcelona, 4-0.

Konko sent the ball past his goalie for an own-net goal, making things very difficult for Sevilla. Lionel Messi, who was unable to score a goal for the Argentine national team in the 2010 World Cup, was back to his former brilliant self with his great supporting staff at Barcelona, many of whom help lead Spain to their first World Cup in South Africa.

Messi scored a “hat trick,” that buried Sevilla and helped his club team win their 9^th Spain Supercopa.

David Villa made his debut with his new club teram, coming onto the field in the second half. Andres Iniesta, who scored the winner against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final, was also able to play a few minutes.

Another of the heros of La Roja, Carles Puyol, did not play. Víctor Valdés, who along with Pepe Reina, backed up Spain goalie, Iker Casillas, in South Africa, was not tested at all during Barcelona’s nearly effortless victory.

Mesut Özil, who made a strong impression during the 2010 World Cup at midfield for Germany (club team Werder Bremen) has signed a six-year deal with Real Madrid after much uncertainty. At times it was reported he was close to signing with FC Barcelona, and at other times it was said he would be remaining in the Bundesliga.

The player, who is of Turkish origin, was presented to the public in the press room of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium by Real Madrid General Manager, Jorge Valdano.

Özil expressed relief at having his final destination resolved and delight at playing under new Real manager, José Mourinho. He is looking forward to taking on the new challenge of returning Real to prominence.

Tough Road Ahead for Spain Under-21

Last Wednesday Luis Milla made his debut as manager of the Spain Under-21 team. Milla was coming off a second place finish in the Under-19 European Cup, having lost to host nation France in the final, and found himself at the helm of another group of promising young Spanish players.

Unfortunately, this group was not able to win their qualifying match for Euro 2011 against the host team, Finland. The Spaniards settled for a 1-1 tie (penalty kick by Bojan Krkic for Spain) and now have an uphill climb to make the Under-21 2011 European Cup tournament.

Spain will play two critical matches in September, and will have to win both to advance to a “playoff” round of four best second place teams to determine who will advance to Euro 2011 in Denmark.

What makes these matches especially critical for Spain is that teams for the 2012 London Summer Olympics will be drawn from the Euro Cup 2011 teams.

José Mourinho, the new manager at Real Madrid, has gotten an up close and personal look at the best goalie in the world, Iker Casillas, captain of La Roja, and happily for Mourinho, the starting goalie for his new club.

Having played Wednesday for Spain in their friendly 1-1 tie with Mexico at Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, Casillas traveled all the way to Germany to stop two of four penalty kicks by Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout on Friday in their new Allianz Arena stadium. He also stopped a penalty kick by Badstuber in the first half, and made several key interventions throughout the match to keep his team in the match.

The game was nothing special as far as timing and rhythm, with Bayern having the overall edge in play, but Real, with Casillas ever-present, did enough to keep the match under control with a 0-0 regulation time result after 90 minutes.

Because it was a friendly, with a trophy honoring German great Franz Beckenbauer the prize, the teams went directly to penalty shootout when time expired. Casillas has proven himself time and again to have an uncanny knack for guessing right and making penalty kick stops, a growing psychological advantage he has over opposition penalty kick takers. Real scored all four of its kicks and won the shootout 4-2.

Real Madrid’s Portuguese manager, José Mourinho, considered one of the best football minds in the world, had a chance to evaluate his team for the first time in direct competition with an opponent.

Mourinho could not have been happy with the debuts of newcomers Carvalho and Khedira, who seemed lost much of the time, nor with the play of his defense, the 0-0 result notwithstanding.

The better play of the German side, which boasted World Cup players Schweinsteiger, Müller, Ribéry, and Klose, could be explained, at least in part, by their advanced pre-season schedule. The Bundesliga begins in one week whereas La Liga begins in two.

Nevertheless, it was good to see Mourinho insert two promising young Spanish forwards in the starting lineup, with newly acquired Pedro León on the right, and Sergio Canales at center forward, to accompany Cristiano Ronaldo on the left, and the Argentine, Higuaín at striker.

To their detriment, Real has too often opted for high-priced, and often under-achieving foreign players, over home-grown talent. A look at the makeup of the highly successful Barcelona club, packed with Spanish players, compared to the Real of recent years, clearly demonstrates Real’s deficiency in availing themselves of Spain’s deep pool of young talent.

It was not a promising start for Real Madrid, and if they hope to compete with Pep Guardiola’s FC Barcelona, they will have to do a lot better. With Mourinho at the helm, and Casillas in the net, Madridistas are hoping for big things from their team this year. It would be good to see bright young players like León and Canales have an opportunity to shine in Madrid!

One thing the rest of the world have learned about Spain’s national football team, La Selección, is that they are virtually impossible to beat.

With all the signs pointing toward a let-down for La Roja in their first official match after winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa last July, the Spaniards pulled out a 1-1 tie with home team Mexico in Azteca Stadium, which is a tough venue for any visiting team under any circumstances.

The Spanish players were coming off four weeks of vacation after winning the highest prize in world sports, with many of them having only one practice going into the match.

Spain manager, Vicente del Bosque, wanted to bring the core of the champion squad to give honor to the newly won title, as well as to Mexico’s Bicentennial celebration. Even so, key players were left behind or did not play, either due to injury or for precautionary measures. Andrés Iniesta, Fernando Torres, and David Villa, among others, did not play.

After having surrendered just two goals in seven World Cup matches, La Roja allowed the Mexicans to score in the 12^th minute on a goal by Chicharito Hernández, to the delight of the enormous home crowd.

Spain lacked their championship rhythm and timing, but settled down and attempted to find  their style of play. The talented and dangerous young Mexican squad created occasional problems, but as the match progressed, the Spaniards imposed their will, and as they so  often do, struck late.

The tying goal was scored by David Silva in the 91^st minute, injury time, off a brilliant pass by Xavi Hernández. Amazingly, Silva came very close to scoring again a minute later, but could not put it away and time expired.

Del Bosque praised the effort of his players as well as the play and sportsmanship of the Mexican team. He also praised the Mexican fans, who applauded the Spaniards and demonstrated enormous good will toward their brother nation.   

Perhaps it is a good thing Silva did not score that second goal. The Mexican players honorably defended their home turf in front of their fans against the World Champs, and would not have deserved the disappointment of defeat, and the Spaniards upheld their long-awaited, and long-desired status as Campeones del Mundo, and remained undefeated!

Note:  Spanish fullback, Carlos Marchena (of club team, Villareal), is drawing much attention for what he brings to La Roja. Marchena played a key role in helping Spain win the 2008 Euro Cup, but has since been relegated to backup status with Gerard Piqué proving to be one of the world’s best young center backs.  With Marchena on the field, however, La Roja have not lost a match since 7 June, 2003, when they lost 1-0 to Greece in a qualifying match for the 2004 Euro Cup.  In over seven years, with Marchena playing at some point during the match, Spain have won 46 matches, tied 10, and lost 0.

This is a truly remarkable stretch, one that has Marchena being touted as La Roja’s good luck charm. With David Silva’s injury-time goal against Mexico to forge the 1-1 tie, the amazing streak continues!