So Spain won the World Cup. "Hurrah!" cry the purists, but I disagree. Although Spain's play has been pretty and their passing and movement are admirable, and they are undoubtedly the best team in the world and deserve their title, this is the second consecutive World Cup where the winning team have scored less goals than most of those leaving the tournament at earlier stages.
Italy did it in 2006 and played dismal defensive football, relying on penalties and an inspired Cannavaro to haul them through. This time the subtance had style, but the victory sends out the same message as before. Football is no longer about who scores the most goals, but about who applies their tactics more effectively to negate the opposition. Italy simply placed a wall in front of the already hard-to-beat Buffon, while Spain entrenched themselves in passing and posession. It may be more pleasing to the eye, but it is, in its own way, just as negative in that it stifles the opposition's potency.
Would Spain rather have scored more goals? Of course. But the fact remains that they're slow and methodical approach was far less entertaining to watch than the expansive, unpredictability of Uruguay, the diverse multi-pronged attacking of Argentina, or the fluid counter-attacking of the Germans... the Germans for crying out loud!!!
Were Spain the best team in the tournament? Yes. Did they play the most entertaining football of the tournament? No. Let's hope coaches around the world look to replicate the the heart and spirit of Ghana, rather than waste their time trying to copy the mathematical formulas constructed by Professors Xavi and Alonso.
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