On sunday night, La Roja ("the Red One") showed how beautiful the beautiful game can be, kicking up their mesmerizing passing several notches and shooting the ball into Italy's net repeatedly, until the Azzuri were blue in the face.
Spain silenced all critics with their skill, speed and supremacy over Italians from the first whistle to the last. A placid Del Bosque sat back and relaxed as his all-star line-up set their traditional club rivalry aside to put the country first and make history.
On the other side, a frantic Prandelli made the cardinal error of replacing the only player who took some shots at the goal (Cassano) with Thiyago Motta, who pulled a hamstring and left the field, leaving a dispirited 10-member Italian squad wishing the match would end as soon as possible.
What a team! What a captain! What a coach! Is there anything that can stop them from lifting the golden cup in Brazil now?
Spain silenced all critics with their skill, speed and supremacy over Italians from the first whistle to the last. A placid Del Bosque sat back and relaxed as his all-star line-up set their traditional club rivalry aside to put the country first and make history.
On the other side, a frantic Prandelli made the cardinal error of replacing the only player who took some shots at the goal (Cassano) with Thiyago Motta, who pulled a hamstring and left the field, leaving a dispirited 10-member Italian squad wishing the match would end as soon as possible.
What a team! What a captain! What a coach! Is there anything that can stop them from lifting the golden cup in Brazil now?
