When Is Boring Not Boring?

Unless you've been living under a football-resistant rock for the last month, you will have become aware that there has been a tournament going on in Poland and the Ukraine, and that it ended last night. Spain were deservedly crowned champions after winning the Euro 2012 final 4-0 against Italy, a record margin for such a match. Italy had disposed of the much-fancied Germans in the semi-final, as well as a rather sub-standard England team, and had managed a creditable 1-1 draw against Spain in their first group match. When it mattered, however, the Spanish were able to totally outplay them.

Champions again.

The Spaniards have been the predominant team in world football for 8 years now, having won two Euros and a World Cup back-to-back, also a record breaking achievement. They did so despite missing their first choice centre-back and captain, Carlos Puyol, and first choice striker (given the decline of Fernando Torres) David Villa. But throughout the tournament they have been the subject of criticism. Despite their obvious technical prowess, they have been accused of being "boring" - surely a 4-0 drubbing of a decent Italy side has put this to rest?

Well, not entirely. Part of the criticism arises from the unusual tactical arrangement of the Spanish side in many of the matches, in which they played without an outright striker in a formation which might be characterised as 4-6-0 or 4-3-3-0. Their reasons for doing so were obvious - they have the best midfield in the world (1), with strength in depth, but Torres is still misfiring and Negredo didn't look up to the required standard -though its a little puzzling that Llorente, who has impressed with an exciting Athletic Bilbao side this year, wasn't even given a few minutes as substitute. So Cesc Fabregas plays as a false striker, and the lack of a central forward outlet means that the Spanish sometimes seemed to be camped on the edge othe opposition penalty area, patiently seeking an opening, for long stretches without a defining incident rounding off the passage of play.

 What happens if you're not good enough: Spain 4 - 0 Ireland

But I think the main problem for the viewer with this patient, highly skilled possession football, is that it perversely forces the weaker side to determine the shape of the game. If the opposition are weak (as were the Republic of Ireland) or become demoralised or exhausted (as did Italy after playing for some time with 10 men at 2-0 down, owing to an injury after they had used all their substitutes) then the flood gates may open. But if the opponents are limited but competent, and resort to grim defence, things just grind on, with Spain wearing the massed ranks of defenders down with their close passing and relentless probing. Eventually, it will work, but only eventually, and if the opponents are not playing an attacking game of their own, it can result in long periods of beautifully constructed nothingness culminating in an 85th minute winner for Spain.(2)

And that's not exciting. Spain aren't in themselves a boring side, but games involving them can all too easily become so, because they refuse to lower themselves to the level of inferior opponents.

Still better than watching England hoof the ball upfield in the general direction of Andy Carroll for 45 minutes, though....

Today's musical presentation is entirely unconnected with the football....

Astronomy in Colour by Alton Herd

Notes
(1) Juan Mata - can barely get a game; Mikel Arteta - can't even get within sniffing distance of the squad. England, by contrast, took Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing to Euro 2012....
(2) Or, sometimes, nothing at all: Spain 0 - 0 Portugal, Semi Final. But when it goes to penalties, you'd bet on the side with the most confidence in themselves, and that is not something Spain lack. Nevertheless, if Portugal had possessed a decent striker, not Almeida, they might have been able to cause Spain some real problems.