Del Bosque silences critics as Spain canter into history books.

The Spanish national team has over the course of these European Championships come in for some unlikely criticism. For the label of “boring” to be applied to a team so renowned for their superb passing game and potent attacks is something quite absurd. Before the championships, it was in fact Germany who topped the favourites lists for many fans and pundits. The Spaniards had the chance to become the first side to ever win three consecutive major international tournaments, and their coach, Vicente del Bosque had the chance to become the first manager to win the World cup, Champions league and European championships. Del Bosque has raised eyebrows throughout the competition by utilising Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas in a more advanced role in what has quickly become known as the “false number nine role”. Most teams have opted to play with either four or five midfielders in their team, Spain have done things differently. In some of their games they’ve played with Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso, Busquets, Silva and Fabregas in the same team, and no real striker as a focal point resulting in being labelled “boring” by pundits such as Allen Hansen.

     When looking through the Spanish squad it is easy to find yourself foaming at the mouth at the level of talent on show. Juan Mata, scorer of Spains fourth goal last night was one of the finest players in the premier league last season and yet up until he came on as a substitute late on in last nights final, he had not had a single kick in any of the games throughout the competition. The reason that people have become “bored” of watching Spain is through no fault of the team itself. The level of quality conveyed throughout the whole squad is unquestionably the best in world football. They also have one of the finest managers in world football at the helm. It is not unreasonable then to imagine that Spain should win tournaments. They have now won the last three major international tournaments, but they are constantly compared to Barcelona and it is difficult to come out on top when you compare a teams’ footballing style to that of Barcelona. Because they do not monopolise possession in the same way as the Catalan club people are now wrongly assuming that there is a boringness within their game.

The demolition of the Italians last night was simply the tip of a very large ice berg. The Italians who have played with such heart and flare in their previous two knockout games against England and Germany couldn’t get a foothold. Pirlo and Montolivo, so inspiring in the tournament so far couldn’t weave their magic, largely because they are both ball players, and Italy just didn’t have the ball for long enough in the game. The high intensity pressing that Spain utilise so successfully is something that few teams can deal with. Couple that pressing with the movement in midfield and the wings so that any player with the ball has two or three players to pass to at all times and it is easy to comprehend why they keep the ball so much.

     Del Bosque has paid tribute to Spain’s “great generation” and it is true to say that no other nation on the planet has as many gifted footballers who are also great winners. However, it is also true to say that last night they played with a fluidity and sharpness that can only happen with the right system in place to do so, and for that reason del Bosque must take an awful lot of credit for sticking with a formation he believed in despite receiving criticism for it. Spain have now gone down in the history books as officially the finest international team that there has ever been. It doesn’t look like letting up anytime soon either, the ageing of senior players like Puyol and Xavi has coincided with the emergence of Mata, Navas, Juanfran etc and a the player factories at Barcelona and Real Madrid keep churning out players with the most tactical awareness and movement in the game.

     Spare a thought for Italy though. Andrea Pirlo watched the trophy presentation with the same green eyes that fans of most teams have watched his performances with. He must know that at 33 now this was possibly his last chance to win another international trophy. However, players such as Montolivo, Balzaretti, Balotelli and de Rossi have plenty of years left in them and have shown great strength against top opposition this tournament. They have shown character and leadership to reach the final in the face of yet another match fixing scandal which is tearing Italian domestic football apart. Cesire Prandelli, has also given a great account of his own credentials by rebuilding the sense of pride in the national team after its disastrous World cup campaign under Marcelo Lippi in South Africa two years ago. He will take great heart from his teams’ campaign and with a manager like him in charge they will have plenty to look forward to for future tournaments. Spain though will take their third consecutive trophy with them to Brazil in two years’ time knowing that there has never been a national team so successful, and it has to be said that with the style that they play with, and the joy that they play with, surely nobody can begrudge them being touted the “greatest ever”.

End of an era? Barca prepare for life after Pep.

After months of speculation in the Catalan media, is was announced yesterday that Pep Guardiola was to step down as manager of FC Barcelona at the end of this season. There have been rumours all season that Guardiola was not going to spend to much longer at the helm of what has become the greatest football team of all time. He has let it be known in the past of his desire to one day manage in the premier league as he sees it as the pinnacle of the modern game.

Guardiola stated that for the past 6 months he has wanted to resign but it is thought that he wanted to finish his Barcelona career with success. However, after a defeat to Real Madrid and a draw with Chelsea dumped them out of the running to win either La Liga or the Champions league it is thought that Guardiola saw it as an opportune moment to announce his departure. Guardiola had a 3 hour meeting with the board where Sandro Rosell, club president, offered him unlimited spending power and increased wages to entice the former Barcelona captain to sign a new deal. Guardiola though declined citing that money was not the issue and that he “could not go on”.

Guardiola’s resignation will spark interest around Europe, none more so than Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich who is a long term admirer of the Catalan. Chelsea sacked Andre Villas-Boas in March and are yet to confirm whether interim manager Roberto Di Matteo will get the job on a permanent basis despite guiding them past Barcelona into the final of the Champions League. Other potential moves for Guardiola would be Liverpool, whose season has been something of a disappointment under Kenny Dalglish despite reaching two cup finals, Tottenham: whose manager Harry Redknapp is continually linked with the vacant England job. It is not likely though that Arsenal is a potential destination for Guardiola as had been suggested earlier in the year, unless Arsene Wengar gets the Barcelona job. Spanish media reports suggest though that it is Guardiola’s intention to take a years sabbatical before returning to football management. He is thought to have become somewhat disillusioned with the pressures of club management and in need of a break from football before taking another job. Once his years’ break is up though many believe that his preferred destination is England.

Barcelona will have their work cut out trying to replicate the success that they’ve had under this manager. Having won the Spanish cup, the Champions league twice, and La Liga three times in just 4 years Guardiola will go down in history as being one of the most important coaches in the clubs’ great history. The fluid style of football that Barcelona have mastered under Guardiola is something that the clubs’ fans and hierarchy alike will want to keep hold of. Tito Vilanova, someone who has worked as a coach under Guardiola for the past four seasons has been given the job and it will be hoped by the Catalan club that he will continue in the same vain that his predecessor, bringing both exciting football and silverware to Catalunya.

Guardiola spent yesterday afternoon with his players, expressing his desire to leave and reasons for it. Players who have flourished under him such as Lionel Messi, Pedro, Gerard Pique and Dani Alves will be especially devastated by the loss of their manager. There is already talk that Dani Alves will be looking to move on in the summer, with Man Utd being a possible destination. Barcelona fans will also be upset and worried by the loss of their manager who has instilled such a wonderful balance of flair, work rate and devastating power which has torn apart defences throughout Spain and over Europe. Although Guardiola did not get his wish of ending his tenure as Barcelona manager on a high, he will be remembered by all in football for having forged a winning mentality and beautiful football to a side which, along with some of the best players on the planet, has led to them becoming arguably the greatest club team of all time.