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Los jugones

Thursday, 22 November 07, 12:59 PM

Though Spain and England are two of the great under-achieving sides in world football both teams were being touted as possible European Championship winners at the start of this qualifying campaign. This lack of international success was not the only feature that these two countries shared. Earlier the debate raged on about a number of issues concerning the teams: should the respective captains, ironically Madrid team mates, play for the national team any longer? When would the two hugely unpopular managers be removed? Were the boasts of having the best players in the world playing in the best league(s) going to ring hollow? Would the teams ever find their true playing style?

Well, we know what happened with Steve MClaren's England but few would have predicted that Spain would finish top of the group after losing to Sweden and Northern Ireland away early on in the campaign. In addition, Raul has been forgotten (apart from Madrid-based newspaper, Marca) and Luis Aragones is flavour of the month.

But it is not just the fact that they have qualified but rather how they have done so. Spain are winning games and winning them well and it is down to what the Spanish media refer to as los jugones, or those who love to play - Iniesta and Xavi from Barcelona and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas. The 4-1-4-1 system is working a treat for Aragones' men and with the calibre of David Villa and Fernando Torres up front maybe next year will finally be the year for Spain. Maybe.

There should be little change at the top of La Liga this weekend with the big teams all having winnable matches, though if you are looking for a shock then maybe Murcia can surprise Madrid. At the bottom you get the feeling that if Levante lose to second bottom Betis it will be all over for them while two former giants, Bilbao and Deportivo, play at San Mames knowing that a defeat would land them in the relegation struggle. Betis and Depor to win those games.

Malaga still lead the second division and visit Real Sociedad where I am tipping another away win for los boquerones.

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