Pretty unfair. Spain plays an elegant style which embodies the Dutch tradition passed onto Barcelona and now, finally, the national team whose DNA was rooted in Barca (who are rooted in Total Football).
What games have you been watching? That was not elegant in the slightest. All 7 of Spain's matches in this World Cup have been some of the most boring affairs not being played by a team throwing matches (yes, I'm talking about you, Nigeria).
Before I begin, yes Spain deserved to win yesterday. Fine. But let's really look at this:
There's a free kick to the Spanish in a dangerous position. Here's a quick quiz:
Q1: Do Spain
(a) cross the ball into the box
(b) pass the ball to someone near the box
(c) attempt a complicated series of quick passes, the last of which disappears up a Spanish fundament?
ANSWER: You know the answer.
That's not elegant. Not trying to score is simply not elegant. Possession is fine, but not attacking when you have the chance is simply not elegant.
Here's what I will remember from yesterday:
Howard Webb issued twice as many yellow cards as he should have and twice as few red cards as he should have. By issuing so many yellows, the entire second half was dedicated to both teams, but mostly the Spainsh, trying to get someone sent off. ZZzzzz.
Heitinga was the LAST Dutch player who should have been sent off. Both of his yellows were soft, where as de Jong and Robben were both lucky to be out there and van Bommell obviously sold his sold to the devil all tournament.
de Jong should have been sent off in the 28th minute. That kick was worse that Zidane's headbutt. At the time I thought "Good for Webb for not ruining the rest fo the game" but in hindsight, if had made the proper call, I wouldn't have sat through that drivel.
As much as I disapproved of Webb's performance, Robben cost the Dutch more than anybody. Kuyt I expect to miss that goal, but not Robben. He deserved to be sent off for his second "dissent" and, for some strange reason didn't fall over on the break when Puyols clipped him, which would have earned him a penalty. I guarantee you Villa, Iniesta, Torres...all would have fallen over. Lot's of questions should be asked of Robben on Monday morning.
The Dutch made the same mistake with Sneidjer as the Germans did with Schweinstager. He was rarely seen in the final, and the one time he did go forward, Robben failed to finish. Too much respect for Spain resulted in the opposing teams playmakers being nuetered.
For all of their "elegance," lets talk about Spains last two goals. One on a set piece (Germany) and one on the run of play, against a 10 man squad on a possession they shouldn't even have had because that was a clear corner off the free kick. Just an awful decision by both Howard Webb and the lines man. That free kick clearly hit a Spanish shoulder squarely, wasn't even a glance. What should have been a Dutch corner resulted in a Spanish goal. That's elegance? Sounds pretty damn lucky to me.
That was one of the worst finals I've ever seen and I think the wrong team is taking the blame. Go back and look at all 7 of Spain's games and tell me they didn't play the exact same boring game in all seven of them.
