Sagittarius in Japan

It’s Wednesday afternoon Japan time, and I’m watching the time-delayed broadcast of the second round match between France and Spain. It’s injury time and washed up old man Zinedine Zidane has just bamboozled Spanish centre-back Carles Puyol and shot his country into a shock 3-1 lead. I haven’t read the press reports yet, but surely the finger will point squarely at Spain coach Luis Aragones’ decision to deviate from the starting line-up that was so exciting in the group stages. Marcos Senna made way for Cesc Fabregas in the midfield and Luis Garcia was excluded in favour of former golden boy Raul. The introduction of Fabregas hardly diminished the overall quality of the midfield, but up front the inclusion of Raul must have raised many an eyebrow around the world. The player was as anonymous against France as he has been for club and country for some time now. When Aragones attempted to make amends early in the second half by returning Luis Garcia to the pitch in place of the Real Madrid man the effect was immediate. The Liverpool forward’s mobility and willingness to make dangerous runs off the ball, as well has his undoubted skill with it gave Spain the penetration they had been lacking. For much of the first half Aragones’ men had been trapped in their own half; in spite of their advantage in the possession statistics, they seldom passed the ball beyond the midfield. Such was the regularity with which they touched the ball back to centre- halves Puyol and Pablo Ibañez that at times one could be forgiven for wondering whether Xavi, Fabregas and Xabi Alonso weren’t having their own private competition to see who could do the best impression of the playing style of David Batty. Luis Garcia, and Joaquin who was introduced into the game simultaneously, changed that. Spain suddenly had a bit more pace, guile and hunger in their forward line. Both players came close to scoring, and both players looked as if they might have done had they been given the time. Shame on Aragones for not having the courage to go with the team that had served him so well and made Spain look like genuine contenders for once. This time the Iberians didn’t even make it as far as their usual bottling stage, the quarter-finals. As much as I hate to, I shall now be forced to support the over-hyped Brazilians when they meet Zizou and Co. in a few days time. Boo.