Senor Aragones,.. you are simply damn so lucky..!! .. Espana siempre..
Friday 27 June 2008 Catalan pair puncture Russian resistance by Graham Hunter from Vienna Sometimes football is just unfair. How did Spain come to be so blessed that a tiny area of Catalonia, between Terassa and Arenys de Mar, produced two such remarkably similar talents as Xavi Hernández and Cesc Fàbregas? Pocket genius Age separates them - the FC Barcelona midfielder is seven years older than the pocket genius who has flourished at Arsenal FC - but in terms of talent, temperament, physique and impact it is hard to tell them apart. On Thursday night Xavi's goal broke Russia's resistance in the UEFA EURO 2008 semi-finals, then his junior partner applied the coup de grâce. If the superfluity of talent at Luis Aragonés's disposal needed any underlining then Fàbregas's achievements at this tournament provide every illustration. Rumours banished Fàbregas seems much older than his years because he started playing top-level football for the Gunners aged only 16. Now 21, the midfielder arrived at this tournament knowing he would start as a substitute after a season when Arsenal's quest for gold turned to ashes. The younger of the pair moved to London because his path was blocked by the elder statesman at the Camp Nou but there is no bad feeling between the two. Regular attendees in Neustift, where Aragonés has allowed the media to watch preparations in full, have seen the diminutive Catalans chatting, jogging and chewing over the issues of the day. The Arsenal man may have been disappointed by his place on the bench but it was impossible to tell from his attitude and work ethic in Austria. Perfect match Against Russia the two gelled beautifully. Fàbregas was his coach's high-stakes bet to replace the injured David Villa and by the end of the night it was jackpot time, again, for Aragonés the high roller. All his decisions have come off during this EURO. Fàbregas's first assist, a delicate dink over the defence for Daniel Güiza to dart in and score, was worthy of Messrs Cruyff, Maradona and Platini. His second was a slide-rule pass for David Silva to add icing to the very large cake. By that time Xavi had long been replaced, resting for Sunday's final against Germany. Hiddink praise Guus Hiddink has seen enough quality players at close quarters to know when he is on to something and could only add to the superlatives when analysing his side's comprehensive defeat. "The movement of the Spanish midfield is excellent and when Villa was changed for Fàbregas there was even more movement," said the Russia coach. "We could handle [Fernando] Torres and Villa but with the midfielder coming on they played more one-touch football. There was a lot of changing of positions at a good pace. You feel as though it's a matter of time [before they score]." Never has the coach's time-honoured phrase "it's a nice dilemma to have" been more apposite. Xavi and Fàbregas, Xavi or Fàbregas, Señor Aragonés - the choice is yours. And you are a lucky man. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
