Village Idiot

Baines has been better than Cole for a good two years, never understood why he hasn't got more time for England.

Will the WC use the same time slots as this, by the way? It's been great being able to follow it without going to bed at 3am, but I don't think the heat will do the footballers any good, particularly in a longer tournament.

20m is a lot for a player that probably has 3 seasons left at the level ManU need, but they haven't ofered 20m yet.

David Moyes with money, man... He will be like a teenager that has just discovered pot.

We've been linked with Eriksen today in "Sport" (usually full of BS, mind), in case Thiago leaves. A Danish attacking mid Anyway, most likely fluff to fill up the paper.

Spain is genuinely Messi-less Barça this year, it's the first time they're playing with the very same tactics. But you need Messi upfront to put people to the sword given that you expose yourself to counters much more than in the more conservative system we used in 2010 and 2012.

Boring as sin to watch IMO. Don't overreact, fair enough that people want somebody new to win stuff but we're more entertaining in this tournament that we've been in a while. Not boring by a mile. Heck, we could play with Iniesta+10 cloggers and it would still be worth it.

http://himg2.huanqiu.com/attachment2010/2013/0108/20130108092457889.jpg I was 7 at the time, I'm not THAT old!

27 years since the last Spain - Brazil competitive match. I actually remember that game... Sócrates scored

I definitely agree with this. Spain have some sort of juju around their goal. It incredible how many fantastic chances have been missed against them in the past two matches. They have looked nothing like the side that are champions three times over. I know this tournament is of less import, but the Spain sides of 2010 and 2012 especially were very defensively oriented. They have not allowed a goal in the knockout stages of any of the last three major tournaments, and in 2010 and 2012 it is hard to remember them conceding chances. Alba especially looks so frail on the counter. Is the absence of Xabi that crucial? We only play with one DM without Xabi (Martínez could easily fill in though). Thing is, that when Alba runs forward, Busquets is the one that covers, either by him moving to the left, or filling in as CB while Piqué drifts to the left. Either way he leaves a hole in the center that Alonso would usually cover. To be frank, I'm enjoying our matches more this way. I don't care that much about this tin cup, and I expect VDB going back to his usual more conservative self for the real cup.

Spurs to hold talks with Villa next week, says Marca. According to them, Villa remains unsure about joining.

"We've reached the final of our dreams at Maracaná" FFS Spanish pundits, it's just the Confe Cup

What has happened?

We won't be well rested for Sunday after this, sadly. Hopefully VDB rotates a few players, there's people more than good enough to come in. Our penalty shootout record, though

HELL YEAH Navas you speedy cunt beauty!

Woah!

Busquets... he can't shoot for shit

Iniesta, Piqué, Ramos taking pens. Better switch those shooting boots.

Dunno, ask Marquis Del Bosque Soldado's injured, but I'd have hoyed in Villa at least.

Ya against Portugal and Italy I think. Portugal's was exactly one year ago (June 27h 2012). Italy blatantly going for the pens.

This has been rumored for a while, but I'd surprised if it takes effect in the next 5 years. The figures in the article look very off though, La Liga's collective budgets are way higher than 750m, only Barça and Madrid together are already 800+

Ah Iniesta

Our CBs surely love a skied ball.

ah, good ole 4-6-0

I know Balotelli is injured and Osvaldo was iced out... but isn't there anything better in Italy than Gilardino? Italy would be winning this already.