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This was the best game in this tournament so far. Reigning champions Spain and former champions Italy held each other to a draw with a goal apiece to gain a point each in Group C. The game was fast, abrasive, a bit rough and exciting. Italy had clearly the upper hand with a locked-up midfield and the occasional attack. Spain, though tried their best to wriggle through the Italian defense with stroke play, quick passes and tactical movements, lacked David Villa. Yes, though it seems strange, Spain went into the game without a striker. Many good moves that started in their midfield died in the penalty box as no one could take it through, while Italy played less tactical and more of raw aggression.
I don’t know if it was only me, but I felt so and hence would dub the game as the meeting between Spanish sophistication and Italian abrasiveness. Notwithstanding the Spanish coach Vincente del Bosque’s strange tactic of going strikerless, the game was more reflective of Italy’s “I-don’t-give-a-damn” rough play. Italy collected 4 yellow cards and and Spain 3, 31 fouls committed between them! The match started with Spain eager to prove that they are indeed the World and European champions, with Iniesta, Fabregas, Xavi and Xabi trying to wriggle through the Italian midfield but with little success, even with David Silva’s calculated passes. Italy on the other hand, defended with all their might (as they always do), waiting for the ball to come to them, and then going all out with it. This soon saw results with Iker Cassilas kept busy, being tested repeatedly. The Spanish defense was full of gaping holes which the Italians exploited thoroughly, but Cassilas stood in between, defense and Goalkeeper all in one. At the other end, short range attacks ensued one after the other but with little result or with little danger. Buffon came up with a great save off Fabregas, and Iniesta hitting the overhead boom camera were some of the highlights. Mario Balotelli failed miserably to exploit Spanish defense’s slips, twice, and was substituted for Antonio Di Natale, which immediately saw results. In the 60th minute he smashed in a Pirlo cross past Cassilas, whose luck was bound to run out soon anyway. But they would not be celebrating long. Four minutes past, Cesc Fabregas having been promoted to Striker, in what seems like the perfect training move, put in a cross from David Silva making it 1 – 1!
The game was played a terrific pace now, turning rough and abrasive with Italians pushing, bumping and shoving, with cards handed out frequently and players falling all over the place. But the format did not change. The Italian midfield was denser than a Neutron Star, but the Spaniards managed to fight their way forward with short and quick passes, and Buffon was tested quite seriously a couple of times, once with a close ranger from Fernando Torres who came in for Silva, which proved again why Gianluigi Buffon is arguably the best goalkeeper in the World. The Spaniards had 18 chances, half of which were on target! Torres then later shot another one into the top of the net. Cassilas also came up with a couple of stunning saves of his own, once from a scorching run by Marchisio in the 88th minute who dodged five Spaniards starting from the center line, only to end up in the hands of Cassilas.
Not the greatest of games, but a thoroughly enjoyable one, with great Football being presented by both sides. Spain could have upped it at least by one one more if they had a proper striker in the first half, and they sorely missed in the defense. Torres was brought in too late to make any serious impact, and Xabi seemed to be lost, and Initesta’s pluck semed to be rarely rewarded. The Italians on the other hand, did well what they do best – defending. And the invisible Pirlo who was behind the goal and behind another two would-be goals, still rules the midfield. But in the end, it was a duel between the World’s two greatest Goalkeepers.
But the real shock came after the game, with Croatia trouncing the Republic of Ireland 3 -1! Now, Italy is at Third place in Group C, and both Champion and former Champion have their work cut out in front of them. Not only have they to win, but score as many goals as possible too! Exciting times ahead!
