CHAMPION FOR MADRID

El Clásico or known as the classic in English is the traditional match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. These two clubs are the giants of footballing world and they have always clashed with each other for glory. It is great rivalry between these two clubs, which attracts so much attention.
In recent past Barcelona has emerged as a team to be followed. It has set high standard of football and other teams are trying to follow the step. Only Arsenal can say with some confidence that it can provide second best football after Barcelona.

Traditionally it was Barcelona, which used to chase Real Madrid but now the situation has changed. Previous decade has seen Barcelona as shooting way ahead of Real Madrid. This stark gap has forced Real Madrid to spend money. They have spent over 160 Millions Euros on different players and coach to get the glory days back. It was thought by owners of Real Madrid that money would solve their problems and great start to the season under new coach José Mourinho, known as the Special One, had further boosted this perception.
El Clásico 2010 was eagerly awaited. Real Madrid were a point ahead of Barcelona. Real had remained unbeaten from the start of the season. World most expensive player, Ronaldo, was in great form. The Special One was having a dream start. Real fans were not believing that Mourinho could so easily transform their favorite club to a wining machine. But this dream was shattered and shattered badly.
El Clásico 2010, displayed that money is not the only thing for victory. Big names with expensive tags failed to stop the free-flowing Barcelona. It looked as if professionals were playing and mocking with armatures. It was match of two sides, matched on paper but not on field. The night belonged to Barcelona. They have humiliated Real by beating them comprehensively.
Barcelona played football of high quality. They have displayed that dedication, commitment and hard work are the ingredients for victory. The football they displayed makes football ridiculously simple but what they do is undoubtedly very hard.
Real Madrid should learn the lesson from Barcelona, which has been taught in very harsh manner. They should concentrate on their weakness and play as team in order to make themselves worthy rivals of Barcelona. Only this will save Madrid from Misery not Money or Mourinho.

Super Ramos

Ahhhh, after a whole month, the world cup has ended. Started on Friday June 11th and ended on Sunday July 11th. It is a very interesting competition, with lots of twists and tales, and discussions and a lot of things not even remotely connected to football. But in the end, we saw some great moves and players, and be happy we did, because of all the black presumptions before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2010, this turned out to be a great tournament, with lots of excellent things, but unfortunately a lot of downs as well. But, lets look at this particular game, the last game, the final, between Spain and Netherlands.
Spain became the world champion, after 120 minutes of play, in which we saw a goalless match in the first 90 minutes, and then a superb action in the 116. minute and goal by Andres Iniesta. It was a good game, with not so many chances, but a nervous one as well, at least from the Dutch side. By winning, Spain's name was written in football history for many reasons. Firstly, it was their first ever World Cup final (hard to imagine? ), and thus, of course, their first ever World Cup title. They are therefore, the third country, after Deutschland and France to combine the World cup title and the European Champion title from two years age at Austria and Switzerland. This is also the first time a European nation won a World cup title while the host nation was outside of Europe. And, so that it is not all about Spain, this was a third final for the dutch, after 1974 and 1978, and their third loss, and they still remain without a World Cup title.
Spain played a better game, no one can deny that. It was clear from the start they had a bigger desire to play attacking football and score a goal, unlike the Dutch who looked more concentrated on stopping Spain than scoring goals themselves. This can be seen by the two chances Sergio Ramos had, and one of David Villa, both give closely wide from the goal. On the other hand, Netherlands were lucky to have all their players on the field in the first half due to all the brutal fouls on Spain players, the most dangerous one being that one of Nigel de Jong on Xavi Alonso, with a high kick to his chest. He got off with a yellow, although it could have easily been a red card. In the second half the same story, although the Dutch, mainly Robben, had a very good counter attack, when his one-on-one attempt was saved by Casillas. Two more chances for Spain, David Villas attempt saved by a defender after Navases cross, and Sergio Ramos header going over the goal from a corner kick when he was alone, and it was extra time. A 100% chance for Fabregas saved by Stekelenburg in the 95. minute, and Mathijsen shooting over the empty goal were the chances, but two elements were crucial. The second yellow card for Heitinga for pulling Iniesta, well deserved red card, some would say finally, and a goal in the 116. minute. The Dutch wanted to secure penalties and hoped to win it like that, but Spain made a brilliant action and got their deserved goal. And thus they became the eight nation to win a World Cup.
And after the game? Some Dutch players blaming the referee for losing, saying that they had too many yellow cards than they deserved. If anything, they had to have more red cards. They really did play hard physical football, no one can deny that, not even Dutch fans, and they could have easily gotten more reds. The Netherland coach, Van Marwijk, said:"I don't think the referee controlled the match well. But let me be clear about this: the best team won the match." And he is right, on both cases. Spain were a better team, with a far bigger desire to play good football. But it is also true Howard Webb, usually known as a good referee, did not have everything under control. He could have, and maybe even should have, shown a red card much sooner, but it was clear he did not want to do that, probably not to 'kill' the game. Thus, he did not take control, and the players used that, on both sides, and they could have all finished the game with less then 11 players on the field. But, it is sad therefore to listen and read the next day, after a good game in the final of the World Cup, mostly about the referee and his mistakes and good decisions, then about the game itself and the winners of the  in South Africa.