Germany relive death of a thousand passes

Germany and Spain, a match up from the 2008 European final, where Germany were beaten 1-0 and found themselves spectators for long periods of the game. And so it was again. Spain held the majority of possession and Germany struggled to impose themselves on the game. It's hard to play without the ball. How do you cope with such clinical passing. An 88% passing success rate is hard to overcome, and when you chase the ball for such long periods, it's hard enough just catching your breathe in the rare moments of possession. Whereas previously Schweinsteiger had enjoyed the run of the midfield and dominated the play from their, here he was up against Xavi, a totally different type of footballer, he only wants two or three touches, and he never stops moving, he is perpetual motion. One of the best midfielders of the modern age, sublime first touch, he just drifts in and out of space, simple but so effective. he can spot a pass, they don't always come off, but he just always has the ball. opta stats have Xavi in possession of the ball every 46 seconds at the WC so far. More frequently than any other player. That is an amazing stat, and really highlights the dominance of Spain in the possession stakes.

On the other hand, Ozil was almost redundant tonight, so few touches and so few chances to make things happen. He may as well have watched from the sidelines, but at 21 he has, on 3 weeks viewing a great future ahead of him. Wonderful touch, great vision and pace. Xavi, Iniesta (who i thought was more wasteful than usual) and Pedro played around Ozil, Khedira and Schweinsteiger as if they weren't there for large periods of time. the decision to start Villa upfront on his own seemed a strange one, especially when Germany seemed to play a 5 man defense. They had width and a few times Ramos, Pedro and Iniesta found themselves out wide but with no one to aim for in the box. Spain don't seem to mind too much. they play tiki-taka football and if it means playing all the way back to the defense then so be it. Possession is king and they are faithful subjects. Klose didn't look like equaling (the real) Ronaldo's record tonight and surely the 3rd/4th place play off shouldn't count?

It's not as if Germany didn't try and they got men forward in numbers and at speed, but whilst they got one attack, they never seemed to get two in succession, not until the end when desperation was apparent. Puyol had a great game at the back, and scored only his third goal for his country, but possibly his most important. Coming into this tournament I wondered if he would be a weak link in the Spanish side, and that they would rely on Pique at the back, but it's been vice-versa. Pique has given away cheap corners and more worryingly, his time in England seems to be living long in the memory, he spends a lot of time on the ground, and sliding in seems to be a first thought not a last resort. But saying that, he and Puyol seem to have a great understanding, and his contribution throughout this World Cup can't be underestimated, and add to that the fact he has two good feet and his distribution is second to none for a centre back. Puyol has been, on the whole, very composed and his bullet like header more than made up for a chance in the first half where again he had a free header and didn't even hit the target. The roar from Schweinsteiger at that point seemed to sum up his frustration. It wasn't as if he had a bad game, but when you want to control a game as he has previous, there can be little as frustrating as not touching the ball. From being involved in all things, he was chasing everything and catching nothing. he couldn't stamp any authority on the game or open up chances, every time he did get the ball he was pressed immediately, time was at a premium. It's a credit to his temperament how he conducted himself, he never did anything rash or out of frustration, just kept plugging away.

You do feel that as Spain have gone on in the tournament, only scoring the 1 goal (they have won 1-0 in all knock out game at 2010) could come back to haunt them. the only prolonged period of pressure from the Germans came in the final 5 minutes, but even then it didn't seem likely, Spain held their nerve as if at a training match. The one chance Germany had was Kroos the substitute, who, from a Podolski cross is in space but fires a scuffed shot st Cassillas. it ma well have been Kroos first touch since coming on, but he should have done better, especially knowing how much of a premium chances come at against Spain. Spain had chances to make it two, Pedro trying to be the hero instead in squaring it to Torres late on. Villa before being replaced looks like he could make it two is denied by a superb challenge from Friedrich on the edge of the box, Friedrich had a superb game overall, but that's a lot of pressure for two centre backs to absorb. Xabi Alonso was superb for Spain, it seems unnecessary for Spain to play with him and Busquets, whilst Busquets also breaks up play, he doesn't have anywhere near the kind of passing range of Xabi Alonso. He really did work all night, never letting Germany settle on the ball, breaking up play and spreading the ball all over the park and with a definite emphasis on moving the ball forward. Great performance, makes you realise what Liverpool have been missing.

It's Spain that go through to meet Holland. There will be a new member in the winners enclosure come Sunday. Looking at the final, and at these counter attacking sides, how do they cope with Spain? Holland, Germany, Argentina, Chile, all of these teas play attacking football, but the ones they did play didn't come close to winning. how do teams like this beat a team that keeps the ball so well. A team that seems to treat games almost as training sessions? Mourinho set a template for beating Barca, and maybe Uruguay were the closest thing to it at this tournament. Absorbing pressure, quick break, never looking to control the game from the midfield.