England vs Spain: Artists against the artisans

The better side by a long distance, Spain are fully expected to give England a footballing lesson

England is going to play the reigning European and World champions in football in a week’s time. So what does the country’s press talk about? Why Spain has been so superior in the recent past? No. Why Spain have one of the best ever contemporary football teams? No. Why Vicente del Bosque was able to successfully takeover from Luis Aragones three years back and help Spain win their first ever World Cup? No.

What exactly were they talking about all week long? They were all up in arms over how FIFA were stonewalling the English FA over the Poppy issue. Was it an issue in the first place? I don’t really think so. With all due respect to the Poppy, a much better thing would have been to not make an issue out of it and just go about donating all of the match fees to the British Army (media houses did suggest this idea). The need to wear the poppy almost snowballed into a crisis. And FIFA and the English FA reached a compromise.

Coming back to the game, this sets up the philosophies of the two nations perfectly. England, still locked in prehistoric times. Spain, basking in the glory of carousel football.

Many writers have argued that England won’t really develop as a footballing force till their players start to strut their stuff in mainland Europe. While that is just a notional argument, the Spanish team has a more continental look to it. Eight players in the current La Furia Roja squad have either played in England or are playing in England. The hosts, meanwhile, have one; reserve goalkeeper Scott Carson who plies his trade in Turkey.

The importance of having a squad which has experienced playing in different countries may not be very important but among the top UEFA nations, England is consistently found wanting in exporting their players to overseas leagues. While the link between that and not beating the top sides at the International level may be arbitrary, it must be worth examining the fact, nonetheless.

I remember the Spanish journalist Guillem Balague talking about the differences in the football culture between Spain and England a few years back. Looking at the physical attributes of the English side, the Spanish FA made a decision to go for players with better ball retention skills. And has it paid off or what?

On the week when the English FA got the poppy go ahead, there was something more remarkable done behind the scenes. The opening up of a brand new football training base – St. George’s Park, a new university for English football, which will be opened next summer. For so long, critics and optimists alike have asked for a training centre to train the kids in a finishing school. St. George’s Park is expected to be a finishing school where England will hope to produce their own Andres Iniesta or a Gerard Pique, or maybe even a Cesc Fabregas – a player who is only seen as strong enough to start from the bench today.

This is not to say that England can’t produce kids from the current system. A Jack Wilshere or a Ravel Morrison will come through the system as always. But the frequency of youngsters coming through will be at a premium.

Michael Cox, prominent football journalist, had this to say about the game.

“As someone going to Wembley on Saturday, I’m perfectly happy if it’s easier for England to pull out and we can have Spain v Spain B instead.

Say, Cazorla-Fabregas-Alonso-Iniesta v Silva-Xavi-Busquets-Mata in midfield,that would be good”

That, in a nutshell, explains the outrageousness of the Spanish side. Iker Casillas made his international debut at the Old Wembley for the Spanish U15 side some 15 years ago. Now, he is set to equal Andoni Zubirarreta’s record of 126 caps. The joke, meanwhile, is that England has tried out about 126 goalkeepers in the last 16 years.

The last time these two sides met in a game, the Spanish midfield ran rings and triumphed 2-0; goals from David Villa and Fernando Llorente sealing the deal for the hosts in Seville.

Fabio Capello, the England manager, described that outing as a “step into reality”. Continuing with his dissection of the game, the Italian said:“I hope in the future we will win. We tried to play like we do usually, but the pressing Spain did to win the ball back showed they are a very good team.”

In the two years that has passed between then and now, England haven’t really gone forwards while Spain have added the ultimate football gong; The World Cup.

One expects Spain to give out a footballing lesson to England come this evening at Wembley.

All that aside, this offers both sides a chance to fix some problems before the Euros which take place in Poland/Austria in eight months’ time. At 32, Carles Puyol is not getting any younger and he cannot be expected to play 90 minutes every time he dons the Spain jersey. This will be a good time to see the talent base of the Spaniards.

Amidst all the midfield talents, one man who has gone up and down that Spain left flank has been Joan Capdevila; the man who played in all minutes of Spain’s World Cup campaign. The Benfica left back is not in the side anymore. It will be interesting to see who gets that starting place. Valencia’s Jordi Alba is in good form and has laid on important goals to compatriot Roberto Soldado and could be given first chance to cement his place.

After England’s dismal qualifying attempt four years back and their less than triumphant return in South Africa two years back, they went back to the drawing board trying to blood in more youngsters. The blooding process will continue tonight at the Wembley. It is widely expected that Manchester United’s Phil Jones will start in midfield while other hotshots like Danny Welbeck and Jack Rodwell will be hoping to use this as a launchpad to get on to that flight come June.

England’s brave and loyal John Terry – accused of racism allegations over the last fortnight – will only start from the bench while the rejuvenated Frank Lampard will be donning the captain’s armband. In the absence of Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere – for different reasons – the Three Lions, and their fans, might as well have their hands on the button marked “damage limitation” for the artists of Spain might just prove a bit too much for the artisans of England.