Spain NT discussion

Quite confident against France as I dont rate them too high, talent aside.

Pedri will be a big miss but Gavi and Busquets being in prime Barça form should allow us to control the midfield if its been done the way it was v Italia.

Definitely will make up for the Euro semi-final loss.

France is clearly the favorite, but that could also mean an advantage for lucho's team. It will be a game of possession vs counters i guess. Mbappe and benzema are both on fire. It would be interesting to see if lucho change his strategy to check them. it can be like another city vs psg game where individual talent may decide the game.

Keep forgetting GL has this separate NT section Didnt watch the games only highlights, so I wanna ask those who did, was Gavi really that good? They making it sound like he dominated Verratti n Jorginho (who btw is the 3rd favourites for the Ballon D'or according to odds)? Or is it just overhype as usual? And Im have no idea on Busquets, I guess some players just turn it up when they play for NT...

Im not sure if Spain were all that since Italy were 10 men for more than half the game, n Ferran Torres scoring twice, whos another player so weird I cant make my mind up, flip flop flip flop.

Spain is back.  Great young players.  Very good manager.  And as I mentioned in the tournament thread, I like this variation of total football by Spain a lot better than their golden years.

The possession is with intent to attack.  They don't look for the perfect ball.  They dribble directly.  They attack zones.  It's fun to watch.  Much closer to the Dutch version I experienced as a kid.

Also, contrary to Belgium, showed a lot of class despite losing. France did the same when it lost to Switzerland. The sign of truly great teams.

I'm a fan as long as you don't play France lol.

Yeah, Enrique definitely has a Barca bias. Why on earth would he call up Eric Garcia let alone start him? Sure he is ball playing and right footed, but he is a shambolic defender.

And lets be real, it doesn't matter how good Gavi is. If he was in any other club and played only five games, he would be nowhere near the squad.

These bias statements are ridiculous! Next you will be saying he has a bias towards Villareal. I will agree with comments about Garcia and Roberts, but that is MY bias. Not the kids, Pedri and Gavi, though. They both played extremely well and the maturity they have shown was outstanding.

Gavi's something special. I am convinced now. Pedri... i have to see him more.

Spain's only issue is goalscoring frankly. They lack that extra quality there. Everything else is great.

Why the lack of goalscoring? I think the way NT teams and club teams play... goals are more a collective effort as opposed to someone being "the man". As a result, you're not developing that killer goalscoring mentality in young players. After Villa and Torres, it's been a chasm.

Sports did you not see enough of Pedri in the Euros? He excelled in all games and then again in the Olympics. That’s about 10 or so games! Gavi meanwhile has played TWO. You by the way took him for Pedri in one of your comments yesterday. Pedri was not on the team this time. In any event both have bright futures, shame they play their club games at Barca!

You are right about goal scorers although Feran Torres is looking promising. The other issue IMO is CBs. He chose García over Pau Torres which was a big and costly mistake (both goals). He’s on the squad for his ball handling, but he is too small for a CB and defensively weak. He is rejecting Nacho because his ball handling isn’t good enough as well Iñigo Martínez is riding the bench and IMO is much better. I am hoping Ramos gets back to playing and gets in form. We miss his heading ability (no one on team is a threat on corners) and I think he would be a welcome addition for WC.

Why is Thiago not in the WC squad?

Ansu is out of form and Garcia is crap but Gavi been awesome for Spain in the games leading up to the WC so it’s not surprising he got called up

Thiago should’ve been called instead of Koke

It’s ok Hala. Regardless of who got selected this team isn’t going to do much! I was posting after Nations Cup how poor the Europeans are this time around. Spain despite having a somewhat impressive recent run doesn’t have any players any more that I would put as top WC class. Compare the squad list to previous teams that were successful!

My biggest issues with this list is absence of Thiago and the inclusion of Eric Garcia and Ansu! Rest of it is meh, but any replacements likely aren’t any better.

I would have liked Ramos to go (if only to shut Vibe up), but with his leadership abilities, he would conflict with team dynamics that are already well established. As to Nacho, I agree, but Enrique has said before that although he likes Nacho, he wants his CBs to be good ball handlers! But picking a shitty small defender because he can handle ball (both for NT and Barca) makes absolutely no sense to me!

Spain team look pretty average, but then again they did wonder in Euro. Surprised at Enrique showing the guts to go to a tournament like WC without experienced players...

neuro11 wrote:Spain team look pretty average, but then again they did wonder in Euro. Surprised at Enrique showing the guts to go to a tournament like WC without experienced players...

There really aren’t experienced WC players available except for Thiago!

Balde will replace injured Gaya

That must mean Barca is the club with most players at the WC

neuro11 wrote:Spain team look pretty average, but then again they did wonder in Euro. Surprised at Enrique showing the guts to go to a tournament like WC without experienced players...

Most teams at the tournament look pretty average. This tournament should be up for grabs for most. No excuses for any top team.

halamadrid2 wrote:This is hilarious

You want Nachos to be called or what?

Put some respek on the Spanish Alphonso Davies

Gaya is bench material at best though right? Alba gonna be the starter luckily? What ever the case, Spains also weak up front as well as in general now

halamadrid2 wrote:

Myesyats wrote:Ansu is out of form and Garcia is crap but Gavi been awesome for Spain in the games leading up to the WC so it’s not surprising he got called up

Thiago should’ve been called instead of Koke

Apart from against LaReal at the start of the season has Ansu even been good in any game this season? It makes a mockery of the selection when guys like him get called over much more established players who've been busting their asses all season and previous season to be overlooked by a guy who has no single positive quality now that he can't score anymore. Don't get me started on Ferran Torres lolz

Thiago should definitely be there over Gavi who isn't even a starter for Barca. Koke should not be there and neither should Laporte ot Alba. It's laughable thay Nacho couldn't even get into the 55 man squad and he is probably better than 98% of the denesers called up. Joke selection.

We don’t have a quality CB! No problem, we’ll create one by changing his position!

For the third time in our history, this has been done with Rodri, after past success with Puyol and Ramos!

And as expected Spain produces nothing. Sorry Enrique, this reality should have been realized long ago Thats what happens with u start a fraud of a player dating ur daughter for the NT above any other decent attack... also Asensio as the CF is a joke... pretty sure Enrique should move on now, after all these yrs with the NT to produce this joke of a team

When Alba remain ur most effective assist maker something is really wrong. Pedri I think has had a disappointing WC in particular...

BarcaLearning wrote:And as expected Spain produces nothing. Sorry Enrique, this reality should have been realized long ago Thats what happens with u start a fraud of a player dating ur daughter for the NT above any other decent attack... also Asensio as the CF is a joke... pretty sure Enrique should move on now, after all these yrs with the NT to produce this joke of a team

When Alba remain ur most effective assist maker something is really wrong. Pedri I think has had a disappointing WC in particular...

Lol, Barca, you don’t know what you are talking about? You can blame Luis Enrique for taking too many kids and for not taking Ramos and Thiago, but other than that, he had no choice with his selection. Yes we would rather not have Asensio, Ferran, Olmo, Morata, Williams etc, but the fact of the matter there isn’t anyone better. It really true thru out the lineup. We simply have not produced any break out star in last 5 -10 years.

As to playing style, he did change it from tiki taca possession style to a more direct possession style. Take a look at the number of chances! It the lack of scoring forwards that is the issue and it has been that way for 10 years now.