When Fabio Capello opined that âÂÂSpain are not as strong as Brazil as they donâÂÂt defend as wellâ it could have been taken in two ways in the home of FIFAâÂÂs newly-crowned number one team.
It was either going to be a measured response taking into account the England coachâÂÂs experience and chin-stroking at the faults he identified or... to be honest... La Liga Loca is full of baloney and bull, here.
It was always going to go down as well as a lettuce in ManicheâÂÂs larder with the Spanish press, who tend to view Capello as some kind of footballing Anti-Christ.
With Spain having been absolutely magnificent throughout much of SaturdayâÂÂs 2-1 win over Argentina now is a very bad time indeed to suggest that there is anyone better than Del BosqueâÂÂs boys in Planet Football.
And this is why Marca is tooting the horn on the big backlash train with a somewhat defensive José MarÃÂa RodrÃÂguez huffing and puffing in MondayâÂÂs edition that âÂÂwhen it comes to playing football, keeping the ball, wanting it, knowing what to do with it, thereâÂÂs no-one who can touch us.
"Not Argentina, nor Brazil, nor Holland and especially not CapelloâÂÂs England. Spain are the best. End of discussion.âÂÂ
This accusation of footballing heresy from the former Real Madrid manager is followed up by the normally rational Roberto Palomar, who scoffs that CapelloâÂÂs comments were a way of âÂÂcovering up EnglandâÂÂs terrible game against Brazil. It was fearful, rancid and conservative... it was Capello,â ranted the columnist on MondayâÂÂs back page.
AS have yet to react to CapelloâÂÂs comments but their readers have.
And bless their cotton socks, the feedback on the message-board below the story has been fairly calm and collected with Zenit scribbling that âÂÂI see Brazil as being stronger, but because they are more balanced, not because the players are better.âÂÂ
Joe, for one, agrees with Capello when writing that âÂÂif everyone maintains their current form, then the favourites for the World Cup are Brazil, Germany, Spain and England in that order.âÂÂ
Aside from fuming at Fabio, the weekendâÂÂs Spanish press has been full of praise for their national teamâÂÂs perky performance against Argentina on Saturday night, and for the dastardly fouling ways of their foes.
âÂÂSpain played, Argentina kicked,â moaned the headline on ASâÂÂs website on Sunday with international footie expert Maldini noting quite rightly that the South American side had âÂÂan alarming lack of football in midfield,â due to the presence of Lady Gago.
âÂÂThe team appears to be modelled more on Heinze than Messi,â writes the paperâÂÂs editor, Alfredo Relaño.
SundayâÂÂs Marca followed a similar theme and boasted that âÂÂArgentina couldnâÂÂt stop Spain either with punches or with kicks,â before calling La Furia Roja âÂÂMagiciansâ on the front page.
Even the Barcelona press were vaguely excited by the performance, especially considering SaturdayâÂÂs starting line-up featured five of their players - something that must still continue to give Joan Laporta the heebie-jeebies.
However, SportâÂÂs focus was on MessiâÂÂs continuing disappointing performances for Argentina, where he seems to be deployed as a full-back from what La Liga Loca could see.
âÂÂNot even Messi can stop Spainâ blasted SundayâÂÂs headline.
MarcaâÂÂs editorial on Sunday suggests that the good people of Spain can genuinely dream about winning the World Cup in South Africa, but with some reservations.
And after witnessing SaturdayâÂÂs performance, that sounds like the right approach to take, thinks La Liga Loca.
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