World Cup Blog | Bill Saporito
The Pain For Ukraine Is Dished Out By Spain
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Posted Wednesday, June 14, 2006: 17.01BST
JASPER JUINEN
HE AIN'T HEAVY >>>>
Spain's David Villa is carried by teammates Senna Marcos, left, and Alonso Xabi after Villa scored Spain's second goal |
How enjoyable was Spain's 4-0 thrashing of Spain? Well, if you're from the
U.S., it's a little dose of mercy from the soccer gods. Now we can say
with the utmost authority: Geez, we really suck, but at least we're not
as bad as those Ukrainians.
Spain's display on a torrid, 87-degree afternoon in Leipzig had to send its fans home dreaming (again) of the Cup. The Spanish were up 2-0 within 20 minutes, the first coming off a short corner that Xabi Alonso bravely tucked away. The second came following a stupid foul by Andriy Rusol, 20 yards in front of his own goal; David Villa knocked his free kick off a Ukrainian head and the ball caromed into the goal. The game was not in doubt from there, given the Spaniards sensational demonstration of creating space on the soccer pitch.
It got a lot easier early in the second half when Ukraine's Vladislav Vashchyuk was dismissed for a foul in the box, and the resulting penalty was converted by Villa. From then on, with a combination of triangular passing, one-twos and terrific dribbling, the Spanish seemed like they were playing on the steppes. The final goal was a sensational combination, with Carlos Puyol freeing himself with neat spinaround, then playing it to Fernando Torres who hit Raul Gonzalez whose pass ahead to the driving Puyol was headed back to Torres for a final blast into the net. Easily, the goal of the tourney.
So thank you, Spain, for making somebody else uglier than the Americans.
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From the TIME archive |
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- Officially Wrong
Referee errors have marred an otherwise high-quality series
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- Sphere Of Influence
What part does the new ball have to play?
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- Korea: Heavy Going
The folks at home stay up late to support their team
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- The U.S. Bows Out With Honor
Ghana delivers the knockout blow to Team USA's World Cup hopes
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- The Truth About Swiss Neutrality [June 14, 2006]
The Crimson Tide hits Stuttgart to prove they are les Bleus worst nightmare
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- Party People [June 26, 2006]
Germany stops worrying and lears to love itself
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- Jumping The Gun [June 16, 2006]
No time for Italy to bring in a football amnesty
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- France: So Far, So Good [June 24, 2006]
Are les Bleus united enough to go any further?
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- Technophobia [June 26, 2006]
Why won't FIFA take the automatic route?
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- Japan's Soccer Samurais Are Left Feeling Blue [June 12, 2006]
Asian champions in the doghouse after loss to Aussies
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- The World Cup Web
Can't get to Germany? Experience the tournament online
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- Off To A Good Start [June 19, 2006]
The first few days of the Cup have had it all
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Mirror Images [June 19, 2006]
Germany's coach and the U.S.'s compared
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- The Global Game [June 12, 2006]
What football's success tells us about the modern world
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- Fair Play [June 12, 2006]
Even Burma's generals realize the simple joy of kicks
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- New Pitch [June 12, 2006]
Germany aims to demonstrate friendliness, creativity — and humor
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- Iran And Football [June 12, 2006]
Football, politics and social change mixed in an uncertain cocktail
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- The Cup That Cheers [June 12, 2006]
Moments that make the World Cup great
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- Global Game [May 22, 2006]
Nike and Adidas are using the planet's grandest gathering to kick sale
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