GDANSK, POLAND — Typically, a phone was left on and rang out during Vicente del Bosque’s press conference on Tuesday. Atypically, it turned out to be the Spain coach’s own.
Like much of the competition, Spain has been far from typical at Euro 2012, the defending champions failing to win us over with their usually beautiful brand of football; instead varying their attack like a high school chemistry experiment that has so far turned out but leaves you with the feeling that it could blow up.
Del Bosque and Andres Iniesta, who has been one of — if not the — standout player of the tournament so far, were beating back criticism over Spain’s play following a 1-0 victory over Croatia. With the win Spain secured top spot in Group C with a tournament high of goals scored (six) and the fewest conceded (one). But it was the manner in which the World Cup winners won that has left many disappointed, and opinions mixed back home.
Del Bosque, the 61-year-old former Real Madrid coach, was more animated than usual on Monday. He is one of the most reserved coaches around, never letting his emotions get the best of him, always trying to transmit calm. Tuesday was as close to any day that I’ve seen him in a state. He joked, he was defensive, he was patriotic even — for a man best described as unflappable, this was as close as we got to since he might not be sleeping so easy at night despite all of that talent on hand.
Perhaps Del Bosque is feeling the pressure to justify a six-man midfield that dominates possession but cannot finish. For some reason, Del Bosque cannot “afford the luxury” of using his deep bench, which seems to signal he lacks faith in Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla and, most notably, striker Fernando Llorente.
Whether it’s faith or an injury we don’t know about, Llorente’s big body would have been ideal for Jesus Navas’ crosses into the Croatia box, but there were only midfielders there to receive, so it was more short passes. Llorente, who has scored more goals than Fernando Torres and Alvaro Negredo combined this season, has yet to play a minute while his fellow strikers have both made appearances.
Spain has downplayed its lacklustre effort with a strong argument, however: That the Euro is the most competitive tournament there is and it’s unrealistic to think you are going to win every match 3-0.
That is certain.
Spain and Germany remain the favourites while heavyweights such as Italy, Portugal and France all left it late to reach the last eight, not one of them guaranteed a place until the final whistle on their final group match was blown. Germany finished with the best record and yet coach Joachim Loew said his team still lacks a killer instinct as it looks to recoup the flare that took it to the final four years ago.
Now the Germans play unfancied Greece, which it seems to have already brushed aside with an eye on the semifinal, where either Italy or England awaits. As a colleague at Reuters wrote this week, problem child Greece has become Euro’s pinata with Italian media commentators calling them crap and German football federation officials expecting the team “to stick it to them.”
Germany’s arrogance could come back to bite it coming up against a Greece team feeding off the emotion of that dramatic Russia victory. The 2004 champions could make it a game or all of that emotion could backfire and it gets run over by the Germans.
Spain and France provides an interesting matchup between fellow two-time winners of the tournament.
Spain is certainly favourite after France’s poor display in a 2-0 loss to Sweden. But France’s style of play should at least force Spain to attack and that could spark the defending champions. Karim Benzema and Frank Ribery will need to have their breakout games or the French will go home with a first defeat in the seventh competitive meeting between the two nations. France was the last team to beat Spain at a major tournament, 3-1 in the second round of the 2006 World Cup.
England is into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004 and momentum is certainly on its side.
Wayne Rooney is back but hopefully it can keep expectations in check and not look ahead to a possible semifinal against Germany. Italy would love that, the Azzurri’s experience and bravado giving it a slight favorite tag over the bruising English, whose knack for grinding out wins should hit an Italian wall.
Cristiano Ronaldo must be licking his lips knowing Portugal has a great chance to reach the semifinals with a matchup against the Czech Republic. And Spain and all of its Barcelona players are in sight, too.
The Real Madrid star should be afforded space against the Czechs and, backed by his two-goal game against the Netherlands, should be able to lead the Portuguese into the semifinals. Portugal’s place in the last four depends on him, and this is the grand stage for him to help consolidate his position as the leading candidate to displace Lionel Messi as Ballon d’Or winner.
Semifinals Predictions: Germany vs. Italy; Spain vs. Portugal.