Euro 2008 - Wenger: Five man midfield the legacy

Eurosport - Sat, 28 Jun 19:38:00 2008

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he expected Spain to start Sunday's final with a five-man midfield maintaining a Euro 2008 trend.

FOOTBALL Wenger - 0

When striker David Villa went off injured after 35 minutes of Spain's semi-final victory over Russia, Cesc Fabregas went on as an extra midfielder and helped his country to a 3-0 victory.

Fabregas, who has played under Wenger at Arsenal for almost five years since joining as a 16-year-old, is expected to start against Germany on Sunday and his club manager is not surprised.

"Most of the teams who came to the tournament as 4-4-2 finished as 4-5-1, including Germany," he said.

"Teams suffered too much in midfield. Even without Fabregas, Spain played 4-5-1 defensively as Villa dropped back, then switched to two up front in attack."

Wenger said he thought Spain were a stronger team with Fabregas in the side.

"They have an abundance of midfield talent, all short players who are technically very subtle," he said.

"Sometimes you have to look twice to see who is doing stuff as they look alike and are similarly talented technically.

"But Fabregas has vision in depth and I believe it is those players who make you win. He has that forward vision and they have a more vertical game when he plays."

Wenger thought Spain would win the final, probably 2-1, but said people should be wary of judging them on their three-goal second-half display in Thursday's semi-final.

"It is difficult to make a definitive conclusion from one half," he said. "Russia were dead physically in the second half."

Wenger said it was important for Germany that Ballack recovered from his calf injury to take his place in the side.

"I think Germany will suffer in midfield and Ballack can carry the team," he said.

"He always covers more ground than people think and it will be sad for him if he misses the game after missing the 2002 World Cup final with a yellow card."

Wenger said Germany remain dangerous even when, as against Turkey in the semi-final, they are not at their best.

"Germany are the only team in the tournament who can have four chances and score three goals and they are the only team who score headers," he said.

"They can always raise their game for the big occasions.

They can be under pressure but get a free kick near the halfway line and score from that.

"How Spain deal with those free kicks and corners is important, though they did well against Italy (in the quarter-final)."

Reuters

Comment 1 - 10 of 10

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. Wenger! Wenger!! Wenger!!
    I still can't understand the French coach who behaves like a core stingy English man. If he really wants to turn the team into a camp where young football chaps are sold, let's us all know, he's like a student who sincerely attend an examination but has no result, isn't that a failure!

    Left for me, he is the one putting shame on the team, slapping the faces of Arsenal fans all over the world. Sincerely, I havent seen any wonderful team in England like Arsenal, gifted players - confirmed, but a bad self- centred coach.

    They say, "it's because he has some shares in the team" so his dream is to make money by building and selling players in order to increase the profit of his shares but not winning a single trophy!! He should just thank God he's not in Africa, where passion for football is like fighting to save a life, he would have been taught the BIG.GGEST LESSON of his life. Why has he not put in for stock exchange market in England, rather than becoming a coach.

    Arsenal needs a NEW COACH whose dreams is to ACHIEVE AND BRING OUT THE RESULTS NEEDED.

    From: Are Owolabi - Nigeria.

    From Owolabi Mcarry, on Thu 24 Jul 12:24PM

  2. is wenger really a professor?

    From emeka ofoegbu, on Sun 29 Jun 3:12AM

  3. its a fcking shame that u idiots did not even read the article wenger is doing what he is paid for, he has had a working summer for the french television which ends after the games, like wise they ask him questions and he answers simple as that. unfortunately a lot of idiots u were posting the comments are just anti arsenal no doubt spurs fans. every year its always the same @#$% being said year in year out, arsenal aim to win the league and champions league. their ambition is not as low as comparing ourselves to non champions league teams not to mention their names.

    arsenal have loads of players coming thru the system watch out this season half the @#$% spurs brought would not even pplay for any decent top four club and yet people think if you go on a spending spree it translates to winning (sic).

    From malvin c, on Sat 28 Jun 10:56PM

  4. wenger will be doing alot of crying this year it isd a joke every time he loses a match he is the same as ferguson they blame the ref. bad bad loser get used of it there will be lots this year

    From Mick P, on Sat 28 Jun 10:41PM

  5. wenger will be doing alot of crying this year it isd a joke every time he loses a match he is the same as ferguson they blame the ref. bad bad loser get used of it there will be lots this year

    From Mick P, on Sat 28 Jun 10:37PM

  6. ha well it looks like it wont be long until you go back to the old boring boring arsenal days,i am not a spurs fan but it looks like they are going to be the top north london team now. the gooners are goners

    From Mick P, on Sat 28 Jun 10:33PM

  7. assmede&assuks09:you must be two typical and gullible Arsenal fans who believe every word their MASTER Wenger utters.Idiots!!

    From Big Kahuna !, on Sat 28 Jun 10:14PM

  8. ASUF,HOW DARE U insult my prof.can u talk when AW TALK.respect ur self

    From onuks09, on Sat 28 Jun 9:19PM

  9. what is the problem with this non entity Show respect to who respect is due ok.he arsene wenger is not your mate.U are probably displaying your lack of proper up bringing.What a wayward fellow!

    From ozimede suleiman, on Sat 28 Jun 9:12PM

  10. Arsene Wenger: You can't stay out of the spot light.Can you?! BTW: Holland scored three times from headers.So keep your facts straight.And if you have nothing to contribute,just shut the f@#$ up!!

    From Big Kahuna !, on Sat 28 Jun 8:44PM
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account