The Grand Finale..

Yesterday was a big match day. Equally for all, the fans, the countries and most importantly the players. Spain almost dominated the proceedings giving very little for Germans to cheer about. But what made yesterdays match even more exciting for me although I am neither of the team's fan, is the fact that i saw it with the intention of wanting to feel what players would be going through. Trust me, it was gold worth of experience.

As the match started, one could easily feel the intensity and positiveness in the big league players' eyes. Ballack, Torres, Lehmann, Puyol, Casillas, Fabregas, Ramos and out of the league yet Schweinsteiger. All of them knew already that they could do it for their team. It was just about getting into the rhythem together as a team. Spain did it before Germans could but things could well have been different if only a few things changed.

Torres was in right attitude bang from the start. Playing lone striker is much more harder than it looks. Not only does it require a lot of pace and having to be everywhere, but also a psychological edge over the opposition's defence. Throughout the match Torres seemed to have battles with Lehmann and other defenders,more so on personal ends. Like for instance, when Lehmann saved the second strike from Torres (which would have been very similar to the goal if it would have happened), Lehmann gave him a glancing look which clearly meant "this time you cant get away like that you as***le"

But what was more interesting was probably happening on the other end of the field. Ballack seemed to be in helpless situation which made his face change for anger to disbelief to sadness. This is first time ever I have seem a player of his calibre shattered. Spain's defence did not do that great a job as they looked shaky here and there. But then a big stage and powering responsibility does do that to you. Schweinsteiger however looked chirpy and could not make a difference only because all the other players were running on different level of confidence. Oh man, how important is the team chemistry.

Germany however were wrong on one note. Both Ballack and Joachim Loew seemed to be disappointed with the other players' performances and worse, they clearly showed it straight on their faces. Dangerous when your team is anyways looking down and under. Even more dangerous when you know that its not working yet you continue doing it. I still feel that Ballack will somewhere in his mind blame his team-mates for the loss. Poor fellow, you should never get that into you as a sportsperson.

Fabregas, Inesta, Xavi, Silva all of them played well. Xavi's assist was the one which got converted. But all of them were very short of confidence.The goal helped them maintain their composure and get into a bit of groove. Ramos should also be given credit for this. He handled his job with utter professionalism and confidence and delivered in his usual fresh intelligence. Yet they never got their potential out and must have thanked god that Germans couldn't do it either. Germans also were not physically able to overpower Spain's fluent passing. And they were not eady for the otherwise situation. Portugal could have easily passed Germans if only had they studied this aspect which Aragones cashed in on.

However Podolski, Lahm and Hitzlsperger played well below their destruction levels. They, along with Schweinsteiger, could have changed the script of the finals completely. Only if Ballack could have got his approach right. Casillas managed a great success out of his captaincy more because of the freedom he gave to the artistic players he commanded. Add to it his value to the team and there it was, a perfect reciepe of a wonderful team. Guess i will have to go back into their history and watch them play to know why this team has underachieved for such a long time.

And yes, with the kind of beautiful game they played, i surely have made my mind to follow their football. And attitude.