Watching Scotland play Spain last night was a delight.
I can’t think of a more genial bunch of fans than the Tartan Army. Two days on the Costa del Sol and they had won the hearts and minds of every local, with their harmless good cheer. No matter their players weren’t quite up to the standards of their hosts. Spaniards joined in the Scots singing, and even tried to liven up the bagpipe with some rhythmic flamenco clapping.
Spain was quite simply beautiful to watch. This was a team that knows what it plays, and plays it to perfection. It’s a team that can afford to leave Casillas and Torres on the bench and do without Iniesta, Xavi Alonso, and Cesc Fabregas because of injury , and still hang together and deliver sublime football of creativity , movement and delivery.
Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque has succeeded in doing what no Spanish prime–minister in history has managed to do: draw together in a truly pluralistic and democratic national venture a group of Spaniards with extraordinary talent, who play for each other, as much as for themselves. Viva La Roja!
