Spain recorded a narrow victory, and go one point clear of France at the top of Group I.
Didier Deschamps used Patrice Evra rather than Gael Clichy at left-back, and the late withdrawal of Mamadou Sakho saw Laurent Koscielny start at centre-back. But the key change was higher up – from the side that defeated...
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Tags: arbeloa, del bosque, deschamps, france, full-backs, iniesta, jallet, monreal, pedro, ribery, spain, valbuena
Posted in Internationals | 41 Comments »
Little possession for long periods – then a set-piece opener followed by a second on the break – a classic underdog victory.
Neil Lennon was forced into a few changes from the side he used at the weekend, but kept to a 4-4-1-1ish formation. Adam Matthews played at left-back despite being right-sided, Kris Commons moved...
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Tags: barcelona, celtic, iniesta, lennon, messi, set-pieces, Song, tactics v barcelona, vilanova, watt
Posted in Champions League | 162 Comments »
Both sides appeared content with a point from an entertaining match.
Tito Vilanova surprisingly named Adriano at centre-back rather than Alex Song, in the absence of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol. Andres Iniesta returned to the side in place of Alexis Sanchez.
Jose Mourinho went for a familiar side – with no Luka Modric or Michael...
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Tags: barcelona, iniesta, messi, mourinho, Real Madrid, ronaldo, vilanova
Posted in Spain | 151 Comments »
ZM’s team of Euro 2012…
Iker Casillas, Spain
This wasn’t a tournament of particularly fine individual goalkeeping displays, but the best two goalkeepers of the tournament – and of the century – met as captains in the final. Until the, there was nothing to separate Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon, but after Casillas made a fine...
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Tags: agger, alba, buffon, casillas, coentrao, de rossi, dzagoev, Euro 2012, fabregas, gebre-selassie, hummels, ibrahimovic, iniesta, jiracek, khedira, moutinho, ozil, pepe, pereir, pirlo, ramos, ronaldo, xavi
Posted in Euro 2012 | 1 Comment »
Spain produced by far their best performance of Euro 2012, and won the final with ease.
Both teams were as expected. Vicente del Bosque made a single change – Cesc Fabregas returned upfront in place of Alvaro Negredo.
Cesare Prandelli also made one change, bringing back Ignazio Abate at right-back, with Federico Balzaretti dropping to the...
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Tags: alba, del bosque, Euro 2012, iniesta, prandelli, silva, spain, tiki-taka, xavi
Posted in Euro 2012 | 218 Comments »