Spanish Football News Blog

SPAIN  

Casillas – 6: His goal was only threatened twice in the first half and he saw both efforts sail over the bar. Made a few mistakes from clearances and goal-kicks, but he could do little to deny Messi from the spot.

Sergio Ramos – 7: Very adventurous in attack, but left a few gaps at the back for Di Maria to exploit. But he did well when he had to stay back and defend.  

Pique – 7: Collaborated well with Puyol in the opening exchanges and rarely looked troubled. Had to be very alert to deal with Argentina’s counter attacks.

Puyol – 7.5: Read Argentina’s attack like a book, especially Messi’s. Spain’s defense immediately looked less secure after he was taken off at the break.

Capdevila – 6.5: Given the luxury to join in the attack in the first period but was penned back in his own half in the second. Often gave Maxi and Messi too much space.

Xabi Alonso – 8: Showed great awareness to react first to Silva’s rebound to score. Wrapped up his evening with a brilliantly taken penalty after his thunderous half-volley led to the spotkick being awarded.

Silva – 8: Easily tore through the Argentine backline at times either with his solo runs or through balls. Shrugged off three defenders to take a shot which led to Xabi’s opening goal.

Xavi – 7: A rather subdued performance from the midfield maestro. Still, he provided endless threat with his piercing passes and always present at the right places to play tiki-taka football with the rest of his attacking team-mates.

Busquets – 6.5: Had a few intriguing battles with Messi in midfield. Stayed just in front of the backline to recover ball and distribute it forward.

Iniesta – 8: Left the Argentine defense chasing shadows with his tricky one-two’s. His mesmerizing close control of the ball was a joy to watch and he had to be hacked down frequently by his opponents to prevent him causing any real damage.

Villa – 6.5: A constant menace in and around the box in the first half but went very quiet in the second as he was deprived of service.

Substitutes:

Albiol – 5: Gave away the penalty when he brought down Maxi with a clumsy challenge from behind.

Fabregas – 6: Ran at the Argentine defense on a number of occasions and had a few cracks at goal but didn’t have a significant impact.

Negredo – 6: Had a glorious late chance but sent his close-range header straight at the goalkeeper.

Jesus Navas – 7: Had one moment of magic late in the game when he burst past the visiting rearguard and almost rounded the goalkeeper after a one-two with Mata. A priceless experience on his La Seleccion debut.

Mata – 7: Picked up where Silva and Iniesta left off with some excellent ball control in tight spaces.

Reina – N/A

ARGENTINA

Romero– 6: Had to pull off a number of great saves. Could do very little to save Xabi’s first goal and even less with the penalty.

Coloccini – 7: Denied Spain a second goal in the first half with a clearance off the line. Kept Iniesta on a tight leash and once the Barca attacker was withdrawn, he took his opportunity to roam forward more often.

Demichelis – 7: Very explosive. Had to battle hard and be very ruthless with his tackles to stop the Spanish assault. His unlucky handball in the area gifted Spain a late penalty and he spurned an even later chance to equalize when he sent his header over from point-blank range.

Heinze – 6.5: Had a confrontation with almost every attacking Spanish player early in the game. Somehow mellowed in the later stages of the match.

Ansaldi – 6.5: Barely left his own half. Had to keep things tight at the back to make sure Sergio Ramos wasn’t allowed to run amok.

Maxi – 7: Had an almost anonymous first half. Got more involved in the second as he started to combine with Messi down the right wing. Ghosted in behind the Spanish rearguard to win a penalty for his side off Albiol.

Mascherano – 6.5: A quiet display. Allowed the Spaniards to completely dominate in midfield before he showed a stark improvement in the second period.

Gago – 7: Constantly tracked back deep into defense to help stem the tide. Full of running to chase the ball but even then, he couldn’t prevent La Furia Roja from controlling the contest.

Di Maria – 6.5: Should have scored late in the first period in a one-on-one with Casillas but his audacious chip sailed over. The liveliest of the Argentine lot in the first half but somehow faded away after the restart.

Higuain – 6.5: Had one of Argentina’s only real chance of the first half when he sent a shot marginally over the bar from Di Maria’s cross. Came close again in the second when his shot from a tight angle just shaved the post.

Messi – 7: Barely had a touch of the ball in the first half. Looked livelier after the break as he had more possession to play with. Converted his spotkick coolly but other than that, he didn’t have much to show as for once, he had to play in a team who didn’t have the majority of possession.

Substitutes:

Tevez – 5: Looked really desperate to impress. Made a few rash tackles in midfield immediately after being sent on.

Cambiasso – 5: Brought in to shore up the Argentine midfield, but couldn't strip away his opponents' momentum when they made a late surge.

Perotti – N/A: Didn’t have enough time to showcase his true potential.

Lavezzi – N/A

Source: goal.com