France Equalizes Spain On Last Minute Goal

France celebrates Olivier Giroud's last minute equalizer. (Getty Images)

France came into today's World Cup Qualifier looking for some revenge for Euro 2012, and to prove to everyone that Spain isn't invincible.  Did they accomplish either of those aims?  Maybe.  They took advantage of a late Spanish mistake to score a goal on virtually the last kick of the match.  I for one came away thinking the wounds that led to Spain dropping points were more self inflicted than the result of anything France did.

France came out in a fairly conservative formation, but kind of clogged up the midfield blocking any direct route at goal for the Spanish possession offense.  However Spain did find some joy on the wings, especially coming up the left side.  This resulted in a corner kick in the 26th minute.  It was sent in to the area and Sergio Ramos saw his first shot go off the post and seemingly away from danger.  However, France couldn't clear, and the ball came back into the area.  While Ramos was still standing there, literally with his head in his hands, the ball fell kindly to him and he smashed it into the top of the net to give Spain the 1-0 lead.

France struggled to create quality chances, but appeared to have equalized the match just prior to halftime.  Jeremy Menez managed to poke home a ball from Karim Benzema at close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside.  Replays seemed to suggest that while Menez was ahead of the last defender when the ball came across, he looked to actually be behind the ball.  At any rate, the decision stood.

Spain had a golden chance to to go up 2-0 at the death of the first half.  Laurent Koscielny cynically brought down Pedro in the area to concede a penalty kick.  Cesc Fabregas stepped up to take it, but Hugo Lloris guessed correctly, diving to his right to save the kick and keeping it 1-0 going into the break.

France came out much more lively in the second half, but scrappy play from both sides dominated the match.  Karim Benzema had a chance to even things up, but somehow missed the target after a great cross from Frank Ribery.

However in the 94th minute the French would take advantage of their literal last chance.  Spain sub Juanfran turned the ball over in midfield and France came storming up the pitch.  Ribery was on hand again to drop yet another pinpoint cross into the box, and this time France got it on target.  Arsenal man Olivier Giroud rose and headed the ball past Iker Casillas into the back of the net to salvage a a point for France at full time.

Congrats to Spain! Euro 2012 Champions!

Action Images

The Puddle would like to extend congratulations to the players, staff, and supporters of Spain for capturing the Euro 2012 Championship.  Today they completed their incredible run to their latest trophy, beating Italy in convincing fashion, 4-0.

By capturing the title, they also made a little bit of history.  With previous wins in Euro 2008 and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010, they earned their 3rd consecutive major international trophy.  Very impressive!  They're clearly the best in the world right now, and in my opinion, they have to be in the argument for best national side ever.

There's an extra little tidbit for my fellow Chelsea supporters:  Fernando Torres was awarded the Euro 2012 Golden Boot!

Euro 2012: Spain vs Italy

Antonio Di Natale scores Italy's goal in the second half (AP Images)

Sunday afternoon saw the defending Euro champions take the stage in Gdansk as Spain took to the pitch against Italy.  These two teams had also won the last two FIFA World Cups: Italy in 2006 and Spain in 2010.  However, nobody gave the Italians much of a chance in the shadow of their match-fixing scandal, but they put on a pretty decent show in the face of a slightly underwhelming Spain performance.

Spain came out in what announcer Ian Darke labeled a "false number 9" formation, featuring a 4-3-3 type with no actual strikers.  They had some success with this formation in the qualifiers, but it didn't seem to phase the Italians.  The Spaniards had a tough time getting good lucks at goal without a focal point up top. Manchester City man David Silva had the first two looks, sending a drive over the bar in the 9th minute and forcing a save out of Gianluigi Buffon in the 11th.

However Italy got more possession than you might expect an opponent to get against Spain, especially in the first half.  In the 22nd minute Antonio Cassano drug a shot across the face of goal that went just wide of Iker Casillas' far post.  Then in the 36th minute Claudio Marchisio sent in an absolutely blistering volley that would have given the Italians the lead, but he hit it right at the Spanish 'keeper.

The goals didn't come until the second half.  In the 56th minute Italy subbed Antonio Di Natale of Udinese for Mario Balotelli.  Balotelli had just royally mismanaged a look right in front of the Spanish goal, and the Italians had seen enough.  However Di Natale paid immediate dividends.  In the 60th minute Andrea Pirlo played him into the area and Di Natale scorched a shot past Casillas into the far end of the goal to give Italy the 1-0 lead.

Spain didn't panic though, and just 4 minutes later they showed exactly what their players were capable of in the "false number 9" formation.  David Silva slid a gorgeous little pass to Cesc Fabregas and the Bareclona man powered his strike past Buffon to tie the match at 1-1.  

After that Spain finally inserted a striker to try and force a winner against the fatigued Italian defense.  Unfortunately that striker was Fernando Torres, and he did not do well.  Actually, he looked pretty sharp on the ball, but one could tell his confidence in goal is not totally back yet.  His best chance came in the 85th minute.  He and Xavi did a nice little 1-2 that resulted in a great look, but Torres' chip shot not only floated over Buffon, but over the crossbar to consign the defending champs to the 1-1 draw at full time.

A Few Thoughts on the USA vs. Spain Friendly

Ok, so I also watched the USA vs. Spain match. I'm confused on a number of points. First off, why schedule this match right before Gold Cup? You can't call it a tune up if you run out your B-team and they get their collective asses kicked. I'm all for saving the big guns until we start Cup play, but come on, if that's gonna be the case, schedule Bolivia or something. It can't be good for morale to take that beating right before your regional tournament kicks off. If you're gonna play the World Champions, play your best XI.

Two, don't give me this crap about how we got killed because we played the B-team. You know what? Spain had half of their B-team out there most of the time too. It wasn't David Villa that was scoring goals. Torres, as much as I hate to say it, hasn't been able to score on a bunch of school kids lately, but he scored on us. No excuses, we sucked.

Three, how are we gonna score goals? Altidore isn't the answer, sorry. Agudelo and Wondolowski looked ok, but they can't do it by themselves. The MF, which was supposed to be our strong point, got their asses handed to them. They couldn't get the ball to the forwards if they wanted to.

Fourth. Hello defense? Again, Spain, yeah I know. I heard the announcers make all the excuses. Hell ESPN could probably hear the sound of the TVs changing channels as Spain lit us up. I've seen better defense down at the City Park on Saturday morning when the second graders play. Ball Watching, no challenging anybody. Unacceptable. I hope the USA saw Costa Rica and Mexico put up big numbers tonight and get their heads straight, cause damn. Tim Ream needs to go back to Red Bulls.

Finally, why the hell is Bob Bradley still our manager? Come on. Oh ok, Landycakes was sick. Right. Just an excuse not to play him and still have it be ok when Spain wipes the floor with us. Freddy Adu? You pick him and don't play him? Come on. I'll say it again, this team has gone as far as Bradley can take it.

Let's hope we play better, or the Gold Cup is gonna be a tough ride.