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Should Fabregas start for Spain?

Euro 2008 Spain
by U12171783 23 June 2008
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Well after another good display (not great by any means), to add to his cameo appearances against Russia and Sweden, does Francesc Fabregas deserve to start the next game for Spain?

In every single one of Spain's matches, the first sub to come on has been Fabregas and this indicates that Aragones feels he is a player who can change a game. I would like to see him start the next match ahead of Iniesta, who hasn't exactly had the best of tournaments. Maybe Aragones has doubts over his ability to handle the pressure of the big stage, but he's been doing just that over the past 2-3 years for Arsenal, and his penalty conversion was a sign of great maturity (others such as Modric and Rakitic missed theirs). Is there something about Spain's style of play that doesn't suit Fabregas?

Views of Spain fans would be appreciated

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posted Jun 27, 2008

I thought that this was about football, but anyway...I am afraid that there is a big cultural misunderstanding here:

Spanish do not care about political correctness. We say what we think and also whatever comes to our mind. Many times we talk too much, but racism is, unfortunately, much more than making a stupid comment.

I live in the US where nobody would dare to say what Aragones said and yet, some people do not vote for a guy because he is black and, after so many years, one sees very few interracial marriages and populations live segregated. Racism is much more subtle.

I have also lived in Switzerland and Germany. Both extremely politically correct countries, but in both places I have felt and seen much more xenophobia and discrimination than in Spain.

I do not think that this subtle hatred exists in Spain. With all our big mouths and silly comments, I have seen much more humanity there. Eleven per cent of the people living in Spain were not born there. We are the door of Latinamerica in Europe. Sure there are problems and stupid people, but ask the thousands of Ecuadorian, Cuban or Colombian brothers working in Spain in which European country they prefer to live.

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comment by piotry (U12269927)

posted Jun 27, 2008

It is not true, he is not racist. He said an unfortunate statement to motivate Cesc. That was a mistake but he is not a racist. Senna is playing with him and one of his best friend is Samuel Eto.

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comment by piotry (U12269927)

posted Jun 27, 2008

Why many of you think that a person who is not in the first eleven is because coach think is worse than the first eleven?

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comment by goleooo (U7165378)

posted Jun 27, 2008

why can't you people for once leave racism out of the discussion. It's fine if you write comments against the german team, we don't mind, and likewise i hope you don't mind us writing comments against the spanish team...that's what fans do...just because we are trying to defeat each other does not mean we don't love and respect one another.
I like Spain and have lots of spanish friends, that does not mean that I am not going to be against them in the final. Germany will win. And yea you are jealous that we have been in the final so many times...you know it...and furthermore as some of you are so proud in putting us down saying we have a boring average team...look at the facts: with an average boring team we always make it to the final...that tells me your teams are well below our average boring team...:P..your comments are very intelligent indeed, but they seem to work against you...

DEUTSCHLAND EIN TEAM EIN ZIEL

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posted Jun 27, 2008

I think and i hope that Spain beat Germany in the final, they more than deserve it.
Spain have some excellent players but in the flurry to praise the likes of Fŕbregas, Iniesta, Silva, Xavi and Villa (and rightly so) not much of a mention has gone to a player that to me has been a solid backbone of Spains team and the rock that has allowed the creative players to get forward. Senna has be quietly brilliant as far as i'm concerned, i don't remember seeing 1 misplaced pass from him and he has played the 'Makélélé' role almost effortlessly.
Germany are quite frankly a poor team and i hope the better team, that being Spain...win.

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posted Jun 27, 2008

only way to beat germany is to score goal in 89th minute .. if spain gets ahead any earlier, germans will equalize..

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posted Jun 27, 2008

I think that Spain plays football like it is supposed to be played.But let's not get carried away, a comment can be both racist and stupid.I don't know about some of you but most racist comments are stupid.Perhaps we should ask the blacks who live in Spain how they feel.And speaking of suttle racism ;How many blacks people hold elected office in Spain? let's get real,racism and discrimination exist in all countries and societies without exception.
The first step in solving a problem is admitting that you have one!

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comment by KC-Run (U11786796)

posted Jun 27, 2008

I like how everyone is supporting Spain. It reminds of a time when everyone was supporting Portugal. Everyone laughed when I said Germany would win, but they won. And Spain remind me of Portugal. Superior players, attacking football etc. But we've seen already how the Germans respond to attacking football, they take what they get and are set-piece masters. Spain are good. The best squad in the tournament, but it wont be easy to beat Germany

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posted Jun 27, 2008

AngryMallorquin (U8924662)

posted 4 Hours Ago

I thought that this was about football, but anyway...I am afraid that there is a big cultural misunderstanding here:

Spanish do not care about political correctness. We say what we think and also whatever comes to our mind. Many times we talk too much, but racism is, unfortunately, much more than making a stupid comment.

I live in the US where nobody would dare to say what Aragones said and yet, some people do not vote for a guy because he is black and, after so many years, one sees very few interracial marriages and populations live segregated. Racism is much more subtle.

I have also lived in Switzerland and Germany. Both extremely politically correct countries, but in both places I have felt and seen much more xenophobia and discrimination than in Spain.

I do not think that this subtle hatred exists in Spain. With all our big mouths and silly comments, I have seen much more humanity there. Eleven per cent of the people living in Spain were not born there. We are the door of Latinamerica in Europe. Sure there are problems and stupid people, but ask the thousands of Ecuadorian, Cuban or Colombian brothers working in Spain in which European country they prefer to live.

___________________________________________

Or ask my wife. She is Mexican and we live in Madrid. She is sick of the racism she experiences daily here.
On an institutional level, there are also huge problems. Very very few non-Spaniards work in the public sector, for example. Spanish society is extremely protectionist.

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posted Jun 27, 2008

Isn't this a place to talk about FOOTBALL?

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