Let the Spanish entertain you
June 19th 2008 00:14
Fernando Torres will be a key to Spain's quest for an elusive EURO championship
Nothing can stop the juggernaut that is the Spanish national team.
After their recent triumph over Greece, Spain have lept into the quarter-finals under new arrangement that has seen them at the top of their game along with the Netherlands.
Having now beaten the recent kings of EURO, Spain now must look forward to their tantalising quarterfinal match up with Italy, who will no doubt look to rip the Spanish of their high porch.
Brought up as the biggest underchiever in world football, Spain do not usually go the full distance when the country needs it the most.
Under coach Luis Aragones, they should not dare get caught up in the hype surrounding their cause for international recognition.
Although they play the best football out of European nations, Spain will never be thought of as a team that can ride in the same league as Italy,France and Germany. Why?
Somewhere in history, either Italy, France or Germany have claimed Sport's greatest team honour or Europe's greatest team honour. These teams can attest to having won a World Cup or EURO championship. Spain can't.
That is why Spain will always rank down the bottom in terms of the credentials international teams can offer. This is a shame because they are one team that can really do crazy yet beautiful things on a football pitch.
When on song, Spain are like pop tunes on radio what Michael Jackson is to music.
You can play them twenty times and not feel the slightest bit of yawn such is their style and class. That may be the very same reason why the Spanish have struggled throughout history.
When they speak of true legends in the game of football, it is interesting to note the lack of Spanish influence. Despite having the formula to great football, Spain are yet to find a mainstream solution to their woes as the world's biggest underchiever in the game of football.
Those words alone should make any Spaniard go crazy, let alone keep their weight under the grave circumstances their national team has gone through.
It seems now this is Spain's best chance to pave their negative history out of the way and look to repay long suffering fans with a trophy to be proud of.
Like most nations, Spain eat,sleep and breath on football. Many Spanish family needs fall on Spain's performances on the international arena, yet critics and underachievement continue to rein.
With all the hate Spain have recieved due to their performances in big stages, Luis Aragones's side must roll up their sleeves and learn not to bow when times are tough on a football pitch.
It's hard to believe the pressure the Spanish are under at the moment. Like a bullet percieved to be on their heads, Spain can almost claim with absolute certainty, they will recieve a huge mouthful that will be heard from the island of Hawaii itself should they fail once again.
The likes of Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Iker Casillas will all die wealthy men that were incapable of delivering the recognition their national team deserves.
To avoid this happening, Spain need to sit down and think what this EURO championship is worth to the country they are representing. Back home there are millions of Spaniards on the streets excited by the prospect of their team going all the way.
Nothing will satisfy them more than seeing the trophy being held by two of Spain's most prosperous players. Anything less and the Spanish national team will be lucky to make it back on a limb.
But without a doubt this is Spain's best chance to dance without a bowtie and introduce silverware that will give all haters and critics alike a reason to drop their vendetta's.
Against the Italians, Spain now must prove to all they are capable of delivering a performance that will see their nation give them enough revenue to continue on their path of glory.
The greatest weapon any team can have is belief and attitude. A little background history reveals the greatest triumphs by any team have been on the back of a mass confidence in terms of winning things in the midst of adversity.
Italy for one reason or another seem to have these ethics in check. Will that be the difference in deciding Spain's fate in EURO 2008?
Spain must learn to follow whatever obstacles are set and break through the barriers to an elusive championship. Their stomachs will be full of nerves and doubt, but its about time they fight opposition instead of becoming walking obituaries with the stench of failure by their side.
Like a devil's contract, Spain will be obliged to deliver against the Italians. Spaniards all over will connect for 90 minutes. More than enough time to put Spain back on the map once again.
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