Viva - Espana - Rejoice after 4 decades
The last 2 weeks have been amazing for Spain. First it was the triumph at the Euro-2008, which had the whole country in ruptures. The icing on the cake happened 2 days ago, when Rafael"King of Clay" Nadal conquered Roger "King of Grass" Federer in an amazing final at the greatest tennis tournament of all - The Wimbledon.
The single aspect that brings these 2 victories on the same plane is that each was achieved after a gap of 4 decades. I can understand the gap in Tennis, but the gap in the football arena just baffles me till date.
Spain had previously won the Euro in 1964 on home turf. They then reached the finals in 1984 where they were done in by the current UEFA head - Michel Platini. Spain always had a talented outfil representing them at the World Cup or Euro, but somehow just could not pull it off. The fact that Spain's La-Liga is technically the best league in the world makes this lack of success all the more baffling. Spain is home to the illustrios Real Madrid, arguably the most successful football club in Europe and their all time rivals FC-Barcelona who also have tasted European success too. With such precarious talents available the wait for success was way too long for the Spanish public.
Spain were always considered a good QF team, who would do good in the league phases and would then be defeated by a big team (Italy & France come in my mind almost instantly)in a Penalty Shoot Out!!! They previously always promised more and delivered well below expectations. This Euro was different. The technique and talent were never in question. It was just putting the mind over matter and Spain did that best. Their brand of football consisted of a strong midfield (Xavi, Senna, Iniesta, Alonso, Fabregas) which functioned as a well oiled machinery feeding the forward line (Torress, Gueza, Villa) with absolutely great deliveries. The pacy forwards did their job to perfection. The usually suspect defence (Puyol, Ramos,Capdevieda) stood up well even against physically superior teams. Casillas as the GK Captain was simply amazing and unbeatable. We all now remember the Penalty Shoot Out against Italy in the QF very well where he out did his Italian Counterpart Gigi Buffon.
The perfect example of their amazing game plan came in the finals. Xavi got on to a ball in the midfield and put across a delightful pass to Torress just between Philippe Lam (German Defender) and Jens Lehmann (Geman GK). Lam hesitated for a moment hoping Lehmann would come to the ball. To his surprise Fernando Torress was quicker to the ball than both Lam and Lehmann put together. He shrugged of Lam and chipped delightfully over the onrushing Lehmann and got the goal that decided the game. Creativity from Midfield (Xavi) and clinical finish by Forward Line (Torress) - was the success mantra of this Spanish Armada.
The credit also needs to be given to Louis Aragones - Spain's coach for this Euro Campaign. He had the guts to drop Raul (Spain's and Real Madrid's All time great) and back the yougsters in the team to do the job. Please note Raul was on the back of a great season @ Real Madrid and still did not find a place in the squad, let alone the playing 11. What also stands out is the logical brain of Mr. Aragones - he just had 2 plays from Real Madrid and 2 from Barcelona for the campaign. The remaining players were from other Spanish Clubs and English clubs. This for me is the most critical factor that clinched Spain the cup. Previously significant number of players were drawn from Real Madrid and Barcelona. Though high on talent to get the players from these 2 bitter rival clubs come together and perform for Spain was a major hindrance and stumbling block. Hats off to Louis Aragones - he got all his cards very well laid out and got a much needed victory for Spain at a global competition.
We all said that Reger Federer would be the greatest Tennis great ever. Well there is no doubt about the greatness of Federer, but now we need to take into account Rafael Nadal too. Rafa has conquered Roger on his favourite hunting ground - Wimbledon this year. This victory by Rafa @ Wimbledon is only next to the great Santana's victory in 1966 @ Wimbledon. 42 years gap for Spanish talents to conquer Wimbledon - not as baffling as Football. Spanish players have always done well on the Slow Clay and to certain extent on Hard Courts, but have fared poorly on the Faster Grass Courts.
Rafa Nadal is no different - having won 4 French Opens in a row has laid his hand now on Wimbledon this year. To win French Open and Wimbledon the same year is an amazing achievement and he is just the 3 person to do so in the open era. All players have problems transitioning from the Slow Clay surfaces to the faster Grass Courts. By winning the Wimbledon Rafa Nadal has sent across a strong warning to Roger Federer and his era of dominance on the Mens Tenniss arena.
Why Rafa Nadal can overtake Roger Federer as the greatest great? Rafa is just 22 and he already has 4 French Opens and 1 Wimbledon to his name. Even if he lasts for next 4 to 5 years minimum, nobody will bet against Rafa not winning the French Open in the next 5 years. Rafa may end up with around 8 French Open Titles, a minimum of 2 to 3 Wimbledons and a couple of victories on the hard courts of US & Australian Open. This will make his tally to 15 grand slams and he would have most probably won all the grand slams. This is where he will out do Federer, as i expect Federer also to close out his career with 15 Grand Slams, sans the French Open. I cant imagine Federer beating Nadal on clay!!!
People & Press have started writing of Federer, given the questions i heard in the post match media conference @ Wimbledon. I feel people (including myself) are passing judgements on Federer and his fading dominance on Men's Tenniss way too quickly. We can shun Federer at our own peril. As Federer told a media scribe who asked him if his days of dominance were over after his Wimbledon Loss "I am now eager to win the Olympics and then the US Open and then we can sit and discuss this out". Even Rafa admitted after his victory that Federer was indeed the greatest. All we hope for is many such duels, as this would make for an interesting rivalry in the years to come.
Finally, VIVA - ESPANA!!!!
The single aspect that brings these 2 victories on the same plane is that each was achieved after a gap of 4 decades. I can understand the gap in Tennis, but the gap in the football arena just baffles me till date.
Spain had previously won the Euro in 1964 on home turf. They then reached the finals in 1984 where they were done in by the current UEFA head - Michel Platini. Spain always had a talented outfil representing them at the World Cup or Euro, but somehow just could not pull it off. The fact that Spain's La-Liga is technically the best league in the world makes this lack of success all the more baffling. Spain is home to the illustrios Real Madrid, arguably the most successful football club in Europe and their all time rivals FC-Barcelona who also have tasted European success too. With such precarious talents available the wait for success was way too long for the Spanish public.
Spain were always considered a good QF team, who would do good in the league phases and would then be defeated by a big team (Italy & France come in my mind almost instantly)in a Penalty Shoot Out!!! They previously always promised more and delivered well below expectations. This Euro was different. The technique and talent were never in question. It was just putting the mind over matter and Spain did that best. Their brand of football consisted of a strong midfield (Xavi, Senna, Iniesta, Alonso, Fabregas) which functioned as a well oiled machinery feeding the forward line (Torress, Gueza, Villa) with absolutely great deliveries. The pacy forwards did their job to perfection. The usually suspect defence (Puyol, Ramos,Capdevieda) stood up well even against physically superior teams. Casillas as the GK Captain was simply amazing and unbeatable. We all now remember the Penalty Shoot Out against Italy in the QF very well where he out did his Italian Counterpart Gigi Buffon.
The perfect example of their amazing game plan came in the finals. Xavi got on to a ball in the midfield and put across a delightful pass to Torress just between Philippe Lam (German Defender) and Jens Lehmann (Geman GK). Lam hesitated for a moment hoping Lehmann would come to the ball. To his surprise Fernando Torress was quicker to the ball than both Lam and Lehmann put together. He shrugged of Lam and chipped delightfully over the onrushing Lehmann and got the goal that decided the game. Creativity from Midfield (Xavi) and clinical finish by Forward Line (Torress) - was the success mantra of this Spanish Armada.
The credit also needs to be given to Louis Aragones - Spain's coach for this Euro Campaign. He had the guts to drop Raul (Spain's and Real Madrid's All time great) and back the yougsters in the team to do the job. Please note Raul was on the back of a great season @ Real Madrid and still did not find a place in the squad, let alone the playing 11. What also stands out is the logical brain of Mr. Aragones - he just had 2 plays from Real Madrid and 2 from Barcelona for the campaign. The remaining players were from other Spanish Clubs and English clubs. This for me is the most critical factor that clinched Spain the cup. Previously significant number of players were drawn from Real Madrid and Barcelona. Though high on talent to get the players from these 2 bitter rival clubs come together and perform for Spain was a major hindrance and stumbling block. Hats off to Louis Aragones - he got all his cards very well laid out and got a much needed victory for Spain at a global competition.
We all said that Reger Federer would be the greatest Tennis great ever. Well there is no doubt about the greatness of Federer, but now we need to take into account Rafael Nadal too. Rafa has conquered Roger on his favourite hunting ground - Wimbledon this year. This victory by Rafa @ Wimbledon is only next to the great Santana's victory in 1966 @ Wimbledon. 42 years gap for Spanish talents to conquer Wimbledon - not as baffling as Football. Spanish players have always done well on the Slow Clay and to certain extent on Hard Courts, but have fared poorly on the Faster Grass Courts.
Rafa Nadal is no different - having won 4 French Opens in a row has laid his hand now on Wimbledon this year. To win French Open and Wimbledon the same year is an amazing achievement and he is just the 3 person to do so in the open era. All players have problems transitioning from the Slow Clay surfaces to the faster Grass Courts. By winning the Wimbledon Rafa Nadal has sent across a strong warning to Roger Federer and his era of dominance on the Mens Tenniss arena.
Why Rafa Nadal can overtake Roger Federer as the greatest great? Rafa is just 22 and he already has 4 French Opens and 1 Wimbledon to his name. Even if he lasts for next 4 to 5 years minimum, nobody will bet against Rafa not winning the French Open in the next 5 years. Rafa may end up with around 8 French Open Titles, a minimum of 2 to 3 Wimbledons and a couple of victories on the hard courts of US & Australian Open. This will make his tally to 15 grand slams and he would have most probably won all the grand slams. This is where he will out do Federer, as i expect Federer also to close out his career with 15 Grand Slams, sans the French Open. I cant imagine Federer beating Nadal on clay!!!
People & Press have started writing of Federer, given the questions i heard in the post match media conference @ Wimbledon. I feel people (including myself) are passing judgements on Federer and his fading dominance on Men's Tenniss way too quickly. We can shun Federer at our own peril. As Federer told a media scribe who asked him if his days of dominance were over after his Wimbledon Loss "I am now eager to win the Olympics and then the US Open and then we can sit and discuss this out". Even Rafa admitted after his victory that Federer was indeed the greatest. All we hope for is many such duels, as this would make for an interesting rivalry in the years to come.
Finally, VIVA - ESPANA!!!!
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