El Guaje Steps Up To Lead Spain's Attack

The new Barcelona triumvirate took charge during the Spain-Portugal match. Xavi-Iniesta-Villa put to rest Portugal's interest in the World Cup earlier this week. With Fernando Torres misfiring, Villa is carrying the bulk of the Spanish attack on his shoulders and has not shirked that responsibility.

Against Portugal, Spain put on their most impressive performance. Their dominance was underlined by an unthinkable 61% possession. Portugal for all their talent, hardly did themselves any justice but credit should be give to Spain for their excellence in keeping Ronaldo starved of the ball. That clearly frustrated the Portuguese playboy, his spit and curt response to a journalist reflected that dissatisfaction.

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Group H Decided! Viva Espana And Red Hot Chile Advance

As in Group G, Group H showcased Spain taking on Chile in their final group match. Chile had impressed throughout the group phase with the vibrant attacking style and also their determination. Spain however hadn't been playing at their best and therefore the match against Chile was potentially an elimination match. The matchup between La Roja and La Furia Roja turned out to be an excellent showpiece of attacking football at its best.

Vicente Del Bosque had to endure criticism about his tactics for Luis Aragones but in the end, he had the last laugh as Spain put together their best performance in the group matches to register three points against Chile. David Villa leapt to joint top of the World Cup scorers leader board when he netted a 40 yard goal after Chile goalie Bravo tried unsuccessfully to clear a Torres danger. Villa then created an opening for Iniesta who scored a sublime second goal. Speaking of Torres, he again looked out of sorts. El Nino's touch remained very heavy and his reflexes very slow, he looks like he is in need of a good holiday with Olala and Nora.

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Villa Bag Two Goals As Spain Gear Up For Chile

The Spanish armada finally fired its first salvo at their World Cup rivals with a 2-0 win over Honduras. Just like against Switzerland, La Furia Roja dominated the match from start to finish, but the only difference this time round was that there was an end product. David Villa opened his quest for the Golden Boot with two goals. El Guaje could have had a hattrick but the normally clinical Villa showed he was human also by shooting wide of the Honduras post.

When asked about the miss,  the new Barcelona man said,

“I missed that penalty due to pressure with the scoreline at 2-0. I have been shooting penalties all my life, it just happened. It was pressure maybe."

So it's not just the English players who are having difficulty keeping a focused mind. This is the highest level of football, I think we should be able to expect some jangly nerves from even the best players.

It could have been more goals but unfortunately Spain could not finish off Los Catrachos. Looking a bit ring rusty, Torres had at least two chances that a sharper El Nino would have buried. Fabregas came on as substitute and his first contribution was to put his hand on his head in disbelief as he shot straight at the Honduras goalie.

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Confederations Cup Match Report: South Africa 0 – 2 Spain

An overjoyed South African fan has this to report after the match against Spain.

Image from SA Sports Soccer

South Africa has advanced to the Semi Finals of the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup despite suffering a 2-0 defeat against European Champions Spain at the Bloemfontein Stadium on Saturday evening!

Bafana needed at least a draw against the number 1 ranked team in the World to secure their passage to the semi-finals but on the night the Spanish were just a class above their host. The defeat meant that Bafana had to hope that the tournament's whipping boys, New Zealand could somehow managed to avoid defeat against Iraq in the other match in Group A.

New Zealand did indeed manage to avoid defeat, as they held the Asian champions to a goall less draw at Ellis Park which booked Bafana's place in the semi finals.

I can't tell you how overjoyed I am at the moment because South African football has been craving for a result of this magnitude since our African Cup of Nations win over Tunisia in 1996.

Well done Boys, you've made me very proud tonight, but I know I can't speak for everybody else as I'm sure there’s bound to be lots of complaining and moaning after this result. But I think we need to celebrate this achievement because we have deserved it after our performances in the Tournament. There is still a lot that needs to be improved on ahead of our next match, which is likely to be against Group B leaders Brazil.

As for the actual game, Santana opted for his uber-defensive line-up again, recalling Benson Mhlongo in place of striker Terror Fanteni but truth be told , but in fairness to Santana, Bafana never really sat back and we definitely gave as good as we got in an evenly contested first half which ended 0-0.

The second half also got off to a good start , until Aaron Mokoena brought down Cesc Fabregas inside the area in the 50th minute and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. David Villa stepped up but birthday boy Itumeleng Khune pulled off a sublime double save to deny Villa.
The Valencia striker would not be denied though as he opened the scoring two minutes later with a brilliant finish after as he beat Khune with a low shot after controlling a cross with his chest. Spain then withdrew Villa and Torres with the game pretty much wrapped up as Bafana looked deflated after conceding. We tried to get back into the match but the result was put beyond doubt when substitute Llorente scored from close range in the 72nd minute after the defence was caught napping from a Spanish free-kick.

That was pretty much game, set and match as all eyes crossed over to Johannesburg where Iraq was taking on New Zealand. Luckily for Bafana the match ended 0-0 which means that Bafana move into the semi-finals alongside Spain.

South Africa's success in this tournament comes as somewhat of a shock considering the bad press that the coach and the team had received prior to it kicking off on the 14th, but this just goes to show that with 50 000 supporters cheering you on anything is possible!

Well done Boys, you've made us proud!



This report is featured at SA Football Fans.

Confederations Cup Match Report: Spain 1 - 0 Iraq

image from Associated Press

Another impressive display from the Spanish Armada as David Villa sealed a semi-final appearance for the La Roja.

Spain are through to the semi-finals of the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 but they were made to work for their place, and a 1-0 victory, by a resolute Iraq side.

The Asian champions made life difficult for their European counterparts from the offset and nearly snatched a shock ninth-minute opener when Alaa Abdul Zahra snatched on a Gerard Pique mistake to test Iker Casillas from 20 yards. Spain quickly established a stranglehold on possession, however, and Mohammed Kassid had to rush from his line to deny Fernando Torres after the Liverpool striker worked a delightful one-two with Xavi.

David Villa, meanwhile, was chasing the goal that would take him past Fernando Hierro as Spain's second-top all-time scorer, and he came close on 24 minutes with a left-foot volley that flashed into the side-netting.

Chances remained at a premium though, with Iraq generally successful in subduing their illustrious opponents, and Villa must have wondered if this was not to be his day when he spurned a glorious chance seven minutes into the second half. Santi Cazorla curled in a tantalising cross but, though unmarked ten yards from goal, the Valencia striker headed straight at the grateful Kassid.

Yet, like any great striker, Villa picked himself up and made amends with a superbly-taken winner, directing a precise header just inside the far post following another terrific cross from marauding left-back Joan Capdevila.

Spain continued to dominate and Xabi Alonso forced a fine save out of Kassid, but as the clock ticked down Nashat Akram almost snatched a dramatic equaliser, firing just wide from 25 yards with Casillas rooted to the spot. La Roja held on for a deserved victory, however, and in doing so equalled the longest winning streak in international football: 14 matches.

This report can also be found at FIFA.com.

See Villa's goal at Soccer Mania.