World Cup 2014 Squads and Games

[northbank123]

2-0. Casillas keeping like a *word censored* again.

[mcdowell42]

De gea should be in goals ,bye bye Spain.

[augie]

De gea should be in goals ,bye bye Spain.

According to big ears on bbc, de gea is injured

[begeegs]

Yep. Once again, he is showing why he would never be suited for Arsenal. You can see why isn't playing much for Madrid anymore.

I wish I would have put my money where my mouth is and put some money on Chile. They were 50-1 in some quarters. I could see them beating Brazil.

[mcdowell42]

De gea should be in goals ,bye bye Spain.

According to big ears on bbc, de gea is injured

Tht could explain him not playing then.

[northbank123]

De gea should be in goals ,bye bye Spain.

Yep. Surely has to be the swansong for the likes of Casillas, Xavi and Alonso, I know Thiago is injured but he has to come in along with possibly Koke and certainly de Gea after this tournament.

It's a bit strange because as poor as Spain have been 2-0 is hardly a fair reflection on the balance of play, Chile have done nothing. There's just that stink of death about Spain where even though they had a few chances and were giving little away you knew they were going to slip behind.

5 central midfielders on the pitch and then one out-and-out winger in Pedro? Just a complete mismatch. With Busquets and Alonso it's imperative that the 4 players in front of them show so much energy and movement. Instead they have Pedro sticking to the touchline, Costa sticking up top and then for all their technical ability there isn't much industry between Silva and Iniesta. Dare I say they need an Aaron Ramsey?

The beauty of their successful tiki-taka years in a way was the lack of rigid tactics - a fluid shape with interchangeable personnel - but that becomes a curse without the unbelievable quality to pull it off. It seems to me like they've tried to be a bit more direct but they're clearly uncomfortable with it. Chile haven't been massively impressive imo, but they've prepped well - organised and when they're in possession sharp passing and use of space.

[begeegs]

De gea should be in goals ,bye bye Spain.

Yep. Surely has to be the swansong for the likes of Casillas, Xavi and Alonso, I know Thiago is injured but he has to come in along with possibly Koke and certainly de Gea after this tournament.

It's a bit strange because as poor as Spain have been 2-0 is hardly a fair reflection on the balance of play, Chile have done nothing. There's just that stink of death about Spain where even though they had a few chances and were giving little away you knew they were going to slip behind.

5 central midfielders on the pitch and then one out-and-out winger in Pedro? Just a complete mismatch. With Busquets and Alonso it's imperative that the 4 players in front of them show so much energy and movement. Instead they have Pedro sticking to the touchline, Costa sticking up top and then for all their technical ability there isn't much industry between Silva and Iniesta. Dare I say they need an Aaron Ramsey?

The beauty of their successful tiki-taka years in a way was the lack of rigid tactics - a fluid shape with interchangeable personnel - but that becomes a curse without the unbelievable quality to pull it off. It seems to me like they've tried to be a bit more direct but they're clearly uncomfortable with it. Chile haven't been massively impressive imo, but they've prepped well - organised and when they're in possession sharp passing and use of space.

Spain have no pace and are playing a snails pace. Chile went a goal up and are now content to counter. I thought that Spain would score, but I see them committing men forward then getting hit on the counter to knock them out.

Having said that - Spain look better this half.

[p206ab]

What I've seen so far, Costa is shite...

[augie]

The sad thing about this is that I expect that it will re-ignite the whole barca v Madrid split - a good hiding in previous game seen only 2 changes and both of those dropped were barca players. One of the players who were promoted to the starting team was from barca but he was taken off. Two of the poorest/out of form players in both games were Madrid players (casillas and Alonso) but both held their places. Two of their key players in recent years have been xavi and cesc but neither of them has been brought on tonight (at least not yet).

I don't for one second believe that the team selection has been influenced by club allegiances but the catalan people do like their conspiracy theories

[northbank123]

What I've seen so far, Costa is shite...

Doesn't look anywhere near match fit. Not a complete excuse by any means as he's still been very poor but given how often he was breaking down injured at the end of the season he's clearly just been playing through injuries. Despite a longer than expected post-World Cup break I'd be amazed if he started the season in early August and got through until Christmas without considerable injury issues (wherever he is).

And as little affection as I have for Spain, they would have been proud of the sort of cheating Chile were putting in. Underdog or not, it was a fine display of diving, injury feigning, time-wasting and haranguing the referee.

[begeegs]

The sad thing about this is that I expect that it will re-ignite the whole barca v Madrid split - a good hiding in previous game seen only 2 changes and both of those dropped were barca players. One of the players who were promoted to the starting team was from barca but he was taken off. Two of the poorest/out of form players in both games were Madrid players (casillas and Alonso) but both held their places. Two of their key players in recent years have been xavi and cesc but neither of them has been brought on tonight (at least not yet).

I don't for one second believe that the team selection has been influenced by club allegiances but the catalan people do like their conspiracy theories

Probably in Spain it will be. You should put your idea forward to be the Spanish Adrian Durham.

To be honest Pique was awful in the first match and deserved to be dropped.

[spendsum4uckingmoney]

Wow Spain are actually pretty bad. I think England could beat Spain ATM they are so poor. There is talent in Spain no doubt but they haven't got any legs. They are over the hill.

[SteveO 35]

Wow Spain are actually pretty bad. I think England could beat Spain ATM they are so poor. There is talent in Spain no doubt but they haven't got any legs. They are over the hill.

And the world's greatest player (according to 1989 ) Diego Costa looked slower than Giroud !

I'm sure he's moved on to wanting us to sign half the Chile team now though after their two good games

[silus]

Pass pass pass pass....lots of possesion with no real cutting edge...woeful finishing...all over the place at the back when the pressure is on....goal keeping errors....just thinking you only need to turn up to win...no plan B...

I seem to have seen this before.....can't think where though

[mcdowell42]

Song the Muppet just got himself sent off.