Announcing a new Meetup for Pe?a Madridista NYC (Real Madrid Supporter's Club)!

What: Spain vs Switzerland

When: Wednesday, June 16,[masked]:00 AM

Where:
Mr Dennehy's
63 Carmine St
New York, NY 10014
(212)[masked]

So the day has finally come!!! From dark horse to fiery steed, Espa?a were changed forever by the Euro. Thanks to Torres's goal against Germany and F?bregas's penalty against Italy, La Selecci?n finally won a major tournament ? and a new identity. A new mentality. Declaring themselves favorites is nothing new but this time, more than ever, Spaniards truly believe it.

As I have quoted Cesc before, let's hope this will continue to be the case: "El f?tbol es un deporte que fue inventado por los ingleses en el siglo XIX y que sigui? su desarrollo en el XX e inicios del XXI. Pero en el a?o 2008 apareci? un equipo que apodaban La Roja e invent? el sky-football (f?tbol celestial)". And now my English translation: One day our grandchildren will read this in the history books: "Football is a sport that was invented by the British in the nineteenth century and continued its development in the twentieth and early twenty-first. But in 2008 appeared a team, nicknamed "The Red" and invented the sky-football (heavenly soccer). "

History lesson

Long perceived to be the perennial bridesmaids of world football after flattering to deceive at the past nine tournaments. Semi-finalists in 1950 they should have matched that in 1994 against Italy before Mauro Tassotti's vicious elbow poleaxed Luis Enrique and left him with a nose resembling Charlie Magri's. Brilliant in the group matches in Germany four years ago, they were undone by an aging France in the last 16, a result which finally allowed them to draw a line under the Ra?l era. Without their supposed talisman they won Euro 2008 with a brand of exuberant purist football that has made them many people's favorites (again).

Tactics board

Vicente Del Bosque has used[masked], 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 with Xavi and Andr?s Iniesta pivotal in midfield in front of Sergio Busquets, David Silva teeing up chances from the wing and David Villa and Fernando Torres (when fit) combining with brilliant effect up front. Doubts persist about the defense, where Carles Puyol lacks pace and height and Sergio Ramos has yet to decide in what position he plays.

Qualifying

Played 10, won 10 and had to break sweat only when Turkey and Bosnia held them to tight 1-0 victories on the peninsular. David Villa scored seven and Gerard Piqu? became a defensive linchpin.

World Cup: record 12 finals

P49 W22 D12 L15 F80 A57

Highest finish: Fourth place in 1950

6: In February 2009's match against England, David Villa became the first Spain player to score in six consecutive games

What's at stake

World Cup head to head

Games played: 2

Spain: 2 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws

Switzerland: 0 wins, 2 losses, 0 draws

Goals: Spain 5, Switzerland 1

Last match: Before Spain fell to Italy in the quarter-finals in the 1994 World Cup, the side overwhelmed Switzerland in the round of 16, winning 3-0 at RFK Stadium in Washington.
All-time head to head

Games played: 18

Spain: 15 wins, 0 losses, 3 draws

Switzerland: 0 wins, 15 losses, 3 draws

Goals: Spain 45, Switzerland 15

Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/realmadridnyc/calendar/13808889/