Spain - The not-so-favorites

MADRID, SPAIN – JUNE 27: Spanish fans react while watching on a giant outdoor screen on Paseo de La Castellana street the UEFA EURO 2012 semi-final match between Spain and Portugal on June 27, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

They have been called the “pioneers of the beautiful game” and the “greatest team ever” by their fans, rivals, the media and almost every person who is or has been a professional football player. Yet a new trend has emerged in the ongoing European Championships in Poland and Ukraine: whenever Spain maintain control of the ball in defensive positions, the stadium is filled with jeers and catcalls. So do the spectators play blind to the amazing possession play displayed by the Spanish? Or is the Spanish style of play really starting to get boring?

Vicente Del Bosque, Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernandes have all come out and dismissed claims about their style of play being boring and have said that the results speak for themselves. Of course, Spanish supporters claim that the jeers from the spectators are purely out of jealousy, and that Spain are being targeted simply because they are at the top of world football. There are also claims that the need for change has fueled the negative attitude toward the Spanish.

The important thing to remember here is that the derision aimed towards La Roja is not from the opposition fans. Between 60 and 70% of the audience in attendance for Spain’s matches are neutrals, mostly local populace who come to watch the matches and have a good time. As political tension between the host nations and Spain are negligible, it would be safe to assume that after the elimination of the hosts from the tournament, the neutrals would back the side that they find most attractive.

Spain’s Tika-Taka is arguably the most attractive style of play ever invented. Their quick one-twos, an exceptionally talented midfield and superb finishing prowess has mesmerized oppositions and audiences over the past six years or so. Their possession of the ball has risen dramatically to 68% from 55.5% in 2008. Having more possession would in turn mean that the Red Fury get more time to work the gaps and more space for their trickery, but on the contrary their game seems to have slowed down to almost a walking pace, and these seemingly endless spells of possession are evidently testing the spectators’ patience.

The Spanish seem to be content as long as they are getting the results and cannot be blamed for that, but their recent performances show that it is possible to disrupt the flow of their game, as Portugal showed last night. The long balls forward and swift wing play saw them make inroads into the Spanish defense, in fact the game was an open affair till the last minute, and ultimately had to be decided on penalties, which ended in Spain’s favor.

Spain will face either Germany or Italy in the final, both have an open style of play and an athletic lineup that relies on strength and speed. Particularly, Germany have been prolific so far in this tournament and the prospect of a Spain-Germany final is mouth-watering and would surely be the match that could disprove the neutrals notion of Spain playing a boring brand of football.