Folks, tiki-taka has been battered and comprehensively outdone by sharp, fast and ruthless attacking football. After Louis Van Gaal exposed Spain's frailties to the whole World, Jorge Sampaoli capitalised and swept them aside in last night's win or burst match for the red fury of Iberia. Alexis Sanchez, Gary Medel, Edu Vargas, Charles Aranguiz, Arturo Vidal, Ricardo Silva, Claudio Bravo and Eugenio Mena played the game of their lives to upset the odds and become only the 2nd team to qualify for the last 16 of the 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP.
Vincente Del Bosque, still reeling from the dispiriting clobbering in the hands of the Oranje, decided to wield the axe and it dangled on the heads of Xai and Pique who were out of the eleven chosen to slug it out with the South American 'La Roja'. Iker Casillas, featured despite his mistakes in the Holland game and Pedro, David Silva and Diego Costa were chosen to lead the attack with Iniesta dropping back into midfield alongside Busquets and Alonso. Javi Martinez took Pique's place in defence, with VDB thinking that the ex-Bilbao man will perform better than the usually reliable (until last Friday) Barcelona stalwart.
Arturo Vidal and company carved out opportunity after opportunity but were marshaled adequately by the defence until Alexis Sanchez breezed through and put it on a plate for Edu Vargas to score his 15th International goal past the sprawling San Iker. It was bad feeling that ran through the spines of the Spaniards and despite their best efforts, Bravo stood between them and a goal from open play. Diego Costa floundered and this raised questions as to why he was chosen ahead of more experienced/seasoned campaigners like Villa and Torres to lead the line. Xabi Alonso cut a forlorn figure all through the first half and almost got sent off. Chile weren't through yet. The red soldiers dented any hopes Spain harboured of staging a comeback with a fine second goal by Charles Aranguiz after Casillas had uncharacteristically punched a cleanly hit Alexis free-kick unto his path. He made no mistake, spinning it brilliantly past the 156-cap goal keeper whose last two appearances represent the worst of his career to date. That was the culmination of Spain's adventure in Rio.
At the start of the second half, VDB spared Alonso's blushes by bringing on Jesus Resurreccion (Koke) in his place. The Rojiblanco who has been tipped to be the long term replacement for the great Xavi, was brought on to at least turn the tide for this team. That was not to be as he made very little impact in the time he was given. EL NINO Torres came on for Diego Costa who had to endure another gutless display and Santi Cazorla made his first appearance too, coming on for the exhausted Pedro who was pocketed very well by Mena. Andres Iniesta, the band leader, tried to orchestrate some new things but all came to nothing as Gary Medel stood like a solid rock and threw back everything that came his way. The former Sevilla man will not stay too long in Wales on the evidence of his last two performances.
The match ended and the feeling of disappointment came upon Spain. Never before had any defending Champion lost its opening two games in the World Cup. After making the right records, they had to balance it up with one unacceptable one. A wake up call for Del Bosque who could be sacked in the aftermath of this. TIKI-TAKA has been found out. Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Spain were all decimated by fast, tight, strong, counter attacking teams in the last couple of months. TIKI-TAKA has to produce something out of the ordinary to return to the summit of World football. Any other than that will be dominated and annihilated.
Xavi, Alonso and Casillas have a jaw dropping 401 caps between them. at the wrong side of 30, perhaps it is time to hand over to the younger generation. The sports gurus call it CHANGING OF THE GUARD. The likes of Isco, Tiago and Koke are ready to be promoted to the big time. David De Gea can now dream of becoming Spain;s number one goalkeeper. No one can deny the excellent service the trio have rendered in the last decade or more but everything comes to an end. However, they cannot be written off considering how much talent they possess and how capable they have been for a long time. Let us see what life holds.
In the other group match, the Socceroos almost caused a stir.Angel Postecoglou's men gave LVG something to think about with a fine display all through the encounter. After Arjen Robben scored his third goal of the tournament, Tim Cahill replied with a worldie. The New York Red Bulls striker powered in a left footed volley past the Dutch goalie to bring the scores level. Australia could have gone ahead countless times but fluffed their lines repeatedly until the second half when Daryl Jammaat was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area and Mike Jedinak duly converted from six yards to put the Socceroos in the lead. Staring down the barrel, the Oranje immediately equalized. Robin Van Persie latched unto a sweet pass and thumped in a shot off his famous left foot to restore parity. MEMPHIS DEPAY came on and scored the winner-his first World Cup goal and that was all for the Australians. Their sojourn has been brought to an end.
Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990
