Måske var den også omtalt i de danske aviser, men jeg kan ikke huske at have læst Jorge Valdanos fuldstændig dækkende beskrivelse af moderne fodbold før.

Chelsea and Liverpool are the clearest, most exaggerated example of the way football is going: very intense, very collective, very tactical, very physical, and very direct," he added. "But, a short pass? Noooo. A feint? Noooo. A change of pace? Noooo. A one-two? A nutmeg? A backheel? Don't be ridiculous. None of that. The extreme control and seriousness with which both teams played the semi-final neutralised any creative licence, any moments of exquisite skill.
"If Didier Drogba was the best player in the first match it was purely because he was the one who ran the fastest, jumped the highest and crashed into people the hardest. Such extreme intensity wipes away talent, even leaving a player of Joe Cole's class disoriented.

Det gode ved det seneste EM var at det lignede "den gamle fodbold" ikke moderne klubfodbold. Moderne klubfodbold har slet ikke hold i kontrol og dynamisk flow på midten mere. Selv det etablerede angrebsspil ligner kontrafodbold - lynhurtige småaktioner i banens længderetning. Efter en lang hård sæson, og uden de to ugentlige kampe til at integrere energien, kan landsholdene simpelthen ikke spille sådan - og heldigvis for det.