*** Official World Cup 2010 Semi-Final Thread: Spain v Germany ***

[mcshane in the 79th]

Marchena comes on for his 54th Spanish cap. They've never lost when he's played.

That is phenominal. Couldn't believe it when he said it.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Well done to the Spanish. They deserved it again.

 

[Horsham Gull]

so there will be an 8th champion of the world this time round

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

so there will be an 8th champion of the world this time round

Indeed, and it'll be Spain

 

[xenophon]

Hard cheese Joachim

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Great result for football.

That was such a one sided game. Spain are easily the best international team I have seen play in 20 years of watching football. Some of their close control and inter passing is from a different planet. It will be a travesty if Holland some how manage to fluke a win on Sunday

 

[1066familyman]

Well done Spain. Please please please, for the benefit of the beautiful game, now go on and show the Dutch that beautiful football CAN win tournaments.

Commiserations to Germany. Noone could fail to be impressed by them in this tournament. They did themselves proud.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Great result for football.

That was such a one sided game. Spain are easily the best international team I have seen play in 20 years of watching football. Some of their close control and inter passing is from a different planet. It will be a travesty if Holland some how manage to fluke a win on Sunday

Any coincidence that 7 out of 11 of their players were from the same club team? With another 3 from Real Madrid? Or would they still have been so good had the players been scattered across Europe?

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Well done Spain. Please please please, for the benefit of the beautiful game, now go on and show the Dutch that beautiful football CAN win tournaments.

Commiserations to Germany. Noone could fail to be impressed by them in this tournament. They did themselves proud.

Couldn't agree more with you hon.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Well done, England. Unlike the Germans, we didn't lose two matches in the World Cup

 

[Rookie]

Love it, nothing better than seeing a few German tears at the end

 

[Skaville]

Hard cheese Joachim

and well done to Del Bosque

 

[alan partridge]

The passing from Spain tonight was just superb. Pressure of a first ever semi-final? Sometimes it looked like a training match.

 

[Simon Morgan]

Spain have won 1-0 1-0 and 1-0 in their knockout matches. The Germans have just won 4-0 and 4-1. How is it Spain who play the total football?

Quite. Not as one-sided as everyone makes out tonight. Holland have been more comprehensive than Spain in this tournament, but I wouldn't bet against Spain getting another marginal victory.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Any coincidence that 7 out of 11 of their players were from the same club team? With another 3 from Real Madrid? Or would they still have been so good had the players been scattered across Europe?

I don't think it makes any difference what club theyre at mate, its the way theyve been brought up in the excellent Spanish systems at youth level. Whoever they bring in to the team from whatever club slots in and plays like hes been there years. Theyre all so comfortable on the ball whatever position they play. Pique has to be the best footballing centre back for many a year.

I think its fantastic they do so well. In recent years football has been all about pace and strength, particularly in the Premier League (Drogba, Henry and Rooney etc), but these guys are generally all short and slight but their ability on the ball is second to none and they prove you don't need to be a gladiator to do well

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Quite. Not as one-sided as everyone makes out tonight. Holland have been more comprehensive than Spain in this tournament, but I wouldn't bet against Spain getting another marginal victory.

I disagree, I thought Germany were miles behind Spain tonight. Germany looked dangerous on two counter attacks, Spain dominated posession in the German half most of the match, particularly in the second half, and looked like they could score at any time. I actually thought the German kids were taught a lesson tonight. They will learn from it though

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Quite. Spain are technically the best team in the world by a mile and their passing is sublime. But neither of those things win football matches by themselves. Amazingly, considering they have Torres and Villa, I think they lack something upfront. They don't seem to have anyone in the box often enough or able to keep it in there. Germany probably aren't as good from a skill point of view but I've much preferred their style over the course of the tournament.

Sunday should be quite close but to me Holland are very similar to Spain and not as good at it so will probably lose out 1-0 or 2-1.

I don't understand your point? Spain did play beautiful football, kept a clean sheet and won the game at the same time, thats the perfect combination isnt it? I think they will beat Holland comfortably as they beat Germany tonight, 1.0 or 2.0

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Quite. Spain are technically the best team in the world by a mile and their passing is sublime. But neither of those things win football matches by themselves. Amazingly, considering they have Torres and Villa, I think they lack something upfront. They don't seem to have anyone in the box often enough or able to keep it in there. Germany probably aren't as good from a skill point of view but I've much preferred their style over the course of the tournament.

Sunday should be quite close but to me Holland are very similar to Spain and not as good at it so will probably lose out 1-0 or 2-1.

I'd say the same about Germany lacking in bodies up front. Apart from Klose they rarely had anyone in the box. Barring some counter attack goals, which have been first class, their goals scored column is slightly flattering in my opinion.