Xavi & Iniesta Need Messi

Spain struggling... while Argentina playing well.

Spain were a borefest last night, who cares if you have 99% possession. The aim is to score goals.

If Spain started a striker it would've been 3-1 or something imo.

They need Villa, Llorente or Soldado running the attack, not Cex or Torres

Spain need to play 4-3-3. Xavi and Iniesta played well especially Iniesta and his link up play with Silva. Cesc is a super sub. I don't mind Torres though Llorente and Soldado are better options!

433 With either Xabi or Busi... Honestly If they played with a striker and a ACTUAL Winger they should be able to out score the Ireland and Croatia.

433 with Xavi, Xabi or Busi, Iniesta. Upfront Pedro/winger, Llorente/Soldado/Torres and Silva

No they don't... they just need somebody running in behind...

It was a wall of midfielders running at a wall of defenders. You need someone pushing the defensive line, turning off their shoulders, giving them an extra element to consider. Torres' finishing was rubbish, but the first thing he did was run in behind on a Navas ball.

They could also do with some width. Second half, Alba got forward a lot more and they used him and Navas was excellent.

Navas is great on the right as he is fast and can beat the sideback and put in a decent cross for a Llorente or Torres. Alba was great going forward but there were occasions when Italy had the ball and Ramos had to cover for him and therefore there were gaps in the defense which led to chances. Alba needs to come back more quickly.

windkick wrote:They need Villa, Llorente or Soldado running the attack, not Cex or Torres

this

But Messi does not need them.

All they need is a proper striker making runs. Once Fabregas made a run in a vital moment he scored.Same with fking torres but he was too head less.

Spain has been scoring very little lately and the grand majority of Barcelona's goals are either assisted or scored by Messi. For me it makes sense that they have a certain dependency of him. it's not that no other striker will be able to provide the runs or finish messi provides. It's just that other strikers won't do it half as effectively as he does and won't be able to become midfielders when the team needs it.

Spain was the same at the WC, doesn't anyone remember? not many goals, a lot of possession. So, I honestly didn't expect any thing other than this.

Yes i think they do. Spain never scored more than 2 goals in last 3 years. even when they had lorente or torres on the pitch

spain going for their 3rd tornament win in a row need another countries player?

Diego Armando Maradona wrote:spain going for their 3rd tornament win in a row need another countries player?

To achieve the goalscoring level of the team they base their game on. yes,

Although more specifically what they need is a great in shape striker. With Villa injured and Torres off form it's not very clear on who to rely for goals

They are obviously a very organized team with a very good defence and a great midfield that is full of playmakers. If they can get one of their current strikers on form or can make one of their midfielders start acting (and scoring) a bit more like a forward they will be fine.

They needed him when they won WC ...

they won in 2010 but if they want to score more than 1 goal in a match they need to transfer messi

billionmillion wrote:Yes i think they do. Spain never scored more than 2 goals in last 3 years. even when they had lorente or torres on the pitch

Nah they dont need Messi per se, they need someone making runs behind the defence. Remember the euro 08? They didnt have Messi yet they were scoring goals for fun because they had a in form Torres and in form Villa making the runs..

Weren't Spain only winning matches 1-0 at the last World Cup with Villa ffs?

You guys are sad individuals. It's all Torres' fault for VDB playing anti-football?

dude pipe down.torres also played in WC . The playmaker passing 9 cant even make a simple pass to Navas . He became a selfish joke too ffs,

Gil wrote:Weren't Spain only winning matches 1-0 at the last World Cup with Villa ffs?

You guys are sad individuals. It's all Torres' fault for VDB playing anti-football?

Yeah and he was the top scorer. There is just so much one player can do, and thats all they had in the WC making those runs while in the Euro 08 they had both torres and villa making those runs and then Guiza did them when he came in..

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You could see how much more creative spain were when they had a forward making those run last night, and if it wasnt for his bad finishing...

Love the thread title! but it's wrong

The problem is midfielders, Spain play too many.

Its not about Spain needing Messi its making fun of the the whole "messi can't do sh** with Xaviesta"

Messi doesnt only makes runs he also makes one twos, passes, dribbles and he is quickest player at working with the ball. all these things helps him to score more, only with runs you can score 1 or 2 goals. and i dont blame torres he did what strikers do but as i said only runs doesnt help you score ton of goals