Sunday 7 June 2009

Viva Espana - Spain Back On Top After A Prolonged Siesta




There are many great stories of incredible achievement in this world. We, the humans, the owners of Earth, have conquered everything the ‘G-man’ upstairs has placed in our way, or, in some cases, placed far out of our way for health and safety reasons, only to sit (on a cloud) - annoyed presumably – and watch us find a miraculous way to conquer that which He deemed un-conquerable.
First, there were the world’s great seas and oceans. Then, before you could say “Where’s my jet-ski?”, those crazy Yanks the Wright brothers were flying a more reliable service than their Ryanair ancestors ever will, high above the grassy mounds of North Carolina.
Years later, we were atop the world’s highest peak in our first successful scale of Mount Everest, and then, before you knew it, those high-flying American’s were at it again, this time sending man to what appeared to be a slightly deserted looking moon.
Now, mankind, getting a bit cocky in my opinion, has begun to imitate the lesser species of this planet, starting with the bird, post-Yves Rossy’s successful jet-propelled Channel cross two weeks ago.
These have all been great achievements, which have been marked along the way with prizes, titles, awards, and, most significant perhaps, bank holidays. However, as this sphere of achievement that we call Earth continues to turn, we need to remember and accept those colossal under-achievers amongst us…name who you will.
Only a matter of months ago, from a sports point of view, the perennial under-achievers were the Spanish; a nation with a great sporting history, domestically widely recognised and respected, but competing on a national scale forever the underachievers. What a difference a summer can make.
It kicked-off for the Spanish with football, where they triumphed at Euro 2008, held jointly by Austria and Switzerland throughout June.
Widely regarded in the beautiful game as the ‘nearly-men’ of international football, the nation with the fantastic flair and skill yet unceasingly falling short of that allusive major triumph, Spain were tipped by many a pundit to meet Germany in the final of the competition, in a prediction that eventually became reality. Pitting their wits against the favourites, who were, somewhat ironically, captained by the perennial runner-up in world football Michael Ballack, it was widely believed that Spain might just have enough in the tank this time to make it across the finish line. And they did. Just.
Fifty-four years on from their last success, Spain overcame Europe due to an experienced, strong defence, a tireless, creative and exciting midfield, and a venomous strike partnership in David Villa and Fernando Torres.
The saying goes that “the key to a good team is a good defence”. This is expertly demonstrated in the Spanish side. With the long-term, first-team European experience of goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defensive rock Carles Puyol, the foundations to perhaps the best back-line in world football are set. Add the pace, stamina and skill of Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos on the right-hand side, and Spain have a defence that is as good soaking up pressure as it is in going forward down the flank.
Although sometimes criticized over his midfield selection in the Euro’s, Luis Aragonés, the former Spain coach, was not exactly short on choice. The names Cesc Fabregas, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Marcos Senna and Xabi Alonso speak for themselves.
In football, it is widely accepted that the age for a forward player is twenty-seven. However, with Villa and Torres aged 26 and 24 respectively, the extra flair and speed that their age provides them gave them the edge to run defences ragged in the tournament, and fire Spain to the trophy.
So what came next for Spain? Try those fourteen days in early July when we all start to think about taking up tennis: Wimbledon.
Rafael Nadal, the poster-boy of the men’s game, fought-out what is now argued to be the best men’s single final ever, with World Number One, Roger Federer. Nadal defeated the Swiss champ, to not only claim the Wimbledon title, but also to edge closer to usurping the World Number One ranking from his long-term foe.
He finally leapt Federer in August, after winning Gold at the Olympic Games, to be crowned World Number One. Nadal also started and ended the summer off brilliantly, by claiming his fourth consecutive French Open in June, and leading his Spanish team to David Cup victory in front of 20,000 fans in Madrid, from which they will go onto compete against Argentina in the final later this year.
As it stands currently, Nadal still sits in first place in the ATP rankings.
To climax a fantastic few weeks for Spanish sport, Carlos Sastre claimed victory in the Tour De France, giving the nation their third consecutive victory in the 3,500km race.
Sastre, who rides for Team CSC Saxo Bank, won the race by fifty-eight seconds over Aussie Cadel Evans, with two other Spanish riders, Samuel Sanchez and Alejandro Valverde, making up the top ten.
On top of all these successes, Spanish sport had several other reasons to be smiling over the summer, with Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jiminez both representing Europe in the Ryder Cup, with the latter being recommended for the European captaincy in two years time. Spain also put on a very good display at the Olympics, finishing fourteenth overall, winning a total of eighteen medals, and equalling their second highest count of five golds in one Olympics – their joint best since the sixteen they claimed whilst hosts in 1992.
So I suppose it is now easy to see that the country once considered the ‘nearly men’, or ‘the great sporting nation that usually fail to win anything’, have turned their fortunes around over the past five or so months. Does that mean that there is maybe, just maybe, a chance of Scotland doing something similar? I doubt it. But hey, lets just enjoy it while it lasts! Whether the Spaniards are playing fantastic football, or Nadal is flexing the guns on the court, then watch it, as it will be entertaining, that is for sure! If not, just enjoy a San Miguel and use the recent Spanish success as a suitable toast for a night on the tiles!



Published: October 2008, Strathclyde Telegraph

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